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How do you promote self-care and resilience among your clients and colleagues?

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If you work in a helping profession, such as counseling, social work, or emergency response, you may encounter situations that are traumatic, stressful, or overwhelming for yourself and your clients. These situations, known as critical incidents, can have negative effects on your mental and physical health, as well as your ability to provide effective and compassionate care. In this article, you will learn about crisis intervention and substance abuse in the context of critical incident stress management (CISM), a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to help you and your clients cope with and recover from critical incidents.

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1 What is CISM?

CISM is a model of crisis intervention that aims to prevent and mitigate the harmful consequences of exposure to critical incidents, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), burnout, or substance abuse. CISM involves a range of interventions that can be delivered before, during, or after a critical incident, depending on the needs and preferences of the individuals and groups involved. Some examples of CISM interventions are pre-incident education, on-scene support, defusing, debriefing, and referral to specialized services.

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2 Why is CISM important?

CISM is important because it recognizes that critical incidents can affect anyone, regardless of their role, experience, or background. It also acknowledges that critical incidents can have different impacts on different people, depending on their coping skills, support systems, and personal factors. By providing timely and appropriate support, CISM can help reduce the risk of developing chronic or severe psychological problems, such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, or substance abuse. Additionally, CISM can help enhance the resilience and well-being of the individuals and groups who are exposed to critical incidents, as well as improve their performance and satisfaction in their work.

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3 How does substance abuse relate to CISM?

Substance abuse is a common and serious problem among people who are exposed to critical incidents, especially those who work in high-stress or high-risk occupations. Substance abuse can be defined as the harmful or excessive use of alcohol, drugs, or other substances, that interferes with one's health, functioning, or responsibilities. Substance abuse can be a way of coping with or escaping from the emotional distress, physical pain, or social isolation that may result from exposure to critical incidents. However, substance abuse can also worsen the effects of critical incidents, by impairing one's judgment, memory, or communication skills, increasing the risk of accidents or injuries, or causing additional health or legal problems.

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4 How can CISM help prevent or treat substance abuse?

CISM can help prevent or treat substance abuse by addressing the underlying causes and consequences of exposure to critical incidents. CISM can help individuals and groups identify and express their feelings, thoughts, and reactions to critical incidents, and provide them with information, resources, and strategies to cope with them. CISM can also help individuals and groups recognize and reduce the factors that may trigger or maintain substance abuse, such as stress, boredom, peer pressure, or stigma. Furthermore, CISM can help individuals and groups access and utilize the appropriate professional services, such as counseling, medication, or rehabilitation, if they need further assistance or treatment for substance abuse.

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5 How can you promote self-care and resilience among your clients and colleagues?

As a helping professional, you have a responsibility to promote self-care and resilience among your clients, colleagues, and yourself. Self-care and resilience are practices and skills that enable you to maintain physical, mental, and emotional health, as well as adapt and recover from adversity. To do this, it is important to take care of basic needs such as eating well, sleeping enough, exercising regularly, and avoiding substance abuse. Additionally, seeking and offering social support, engaging in activities that give joy or relaxation, setting boundaries, developing coping skills, and seeking help when necessary are all important elements of self-care and resilience. By promoting these practices to your clients and colleagues, you can help them prevent or overcome the negative effects of exposure to critical incidents and enhance their quality of life and work.

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Philip H. Brown, MSW, ACSW, LCSW, DCSW, BCD

Clinical Private Practice at Northeast Psychotherapy | Mental Health Expert
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In my experience, given a choice between substance abuse and substance use to help maintain health, many will choose wisely. The COVID-19 pandemic was one such incident to illustrate this. Early in the Pandemic a self supporting group was formed on Facebook. Quickly a list of supplements to help maintain a healthy immune system was widely shared. After the tragic suicides of some ER physicians the Red Cross offered virtual support to workers treating patients in some of the hardest hit areas. Helping them create and maintain healthy lifestyle choices along with providing them with an empathetic way to vent their grief, frustration, and helplessness kept many of them afloat in the turbulent environment that they experiencing.

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