International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc.
International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc.
By: Patty Stewart McCord, BGS, CCISM
Saskatchewan is a rural province…with a whole lot of geography and a little over a million people who can physically distance quite easily…in fact unless there’s a concert, a Saskatchewan Roughriders football game or a holiday gathering, staying apart from folks is fairly easy to do. So when COVID19 walked in the door and there was a lockdown, we did what prairie people do, we checked in on our friends and loved ones, made sure we had provisions and “hunkered down”… after all, this couldn’t possibly last more than a season, right? Here we are nearly 2 years later, with 80% of us fully vaccinated and most everyone wearing masks, and we’re in the 4th wave. But attitudes now range from anger, blame and denial to bargaining, acceptance and even optimism for the future as we navigate the ups and downs of COVID19.
So how do we provide support through an event such as this? The first step in engaging with those in crisis (Strategic Response) is to do a thorough assessment in order to understand the situation but also to be able to identify target groups and individuals who may benefit from CISM support.
What we have seen over the last many months, is that healthcare workers who are involved in the intense work of the ICUs, Emergency Departments, COVID wards, and the transport of these very critical patients have shown the integrity, determination, stamina and grit of an Olympic Champion. Never in my career have I experienced the heart and dedication of so many physicians, nurses, paramedics and other healthcare workers determined to give everything they’ve got to support patients in these most dire of circumstances. Reports of physical fatigue are common, but in our work, we understand that often the body knows before the brain has the concept. What we are perceiving as physical fatigue could easily be the body interpreting psychological and emotional fatigue. One of the “gifts” of COVID is that we can now talk about mental health issues because we recognize the importance of self-care now. It remains a difficult concept for those in professions that are conditioned and trained to so easily look outside of “self” to support others. It’s time to recognize that it isn’t selfish to practice self-care.
CISM Teams continue to provide support for staff who experience critical incidents, through 1:1s, Defusings and CISDs. There are other opportunities that have been made clear during disasters in earlier times too. The Crisis Management Briefing for providing updates on current situations as well as to remind healthcare teams of their roles and their responsibility to their teams and one another. The RITS (Rest-Information-Transition-Services) has become the most frequently used skill for our healthcare workers in hospitals and long term care because it could be done within the ward or at a designated time for staff as an online tool. Rather than being used strictly as an “information push”, team members allow brief comments and conversation with staff as well. It becomes an opportunity for the group to talk about the common stressors, remind them of the coping strategies they already have that can boost their wellbeing. What we have found is also helpful is reminding them they are part of a team.
Health care workers have incredible skills in helping others, but here is a time we should also acknowledge what as one doctor recently said in a physicians meeting…”This is sacred work that we’re doing now.” Consider that for a moment. With that in mind, how do we support our healthcare workers through this time? Offer encouragement and support as they continue to focus on the work before them. When possible, provide brief respites…a few minutes of detachment from the work environment where they can decompress and return to work. Some places have created a transition place within the hospital setting where they can gather their thoughts and maybe talk to a trained peer support member or counsellor before leaving for home. In other words a place that offers a chance to “clear one’s head” before going home to family at the end of a shift.
I’ve reminded colleagues to ask the question we often discuss in the AIC course, “What can I do for you right now that will help.?” It encourages a moment of reflection on their own needs rather than the needs of others. `We realize that everyone is tired of COVID. But humankind is strong and resilient. We like to know that we’re appreciated. It costs nothing to offer a smile, words of encouragement or a compliment to a co-worker for friend. Members of my team are currently trying to figure out how to provide Starbucks gift cards to all of those working in acute care settings throughout the province.
It’s important to remind healthcare workers about self-awareness too. We should all know the signs of stress and tension in our own bodies so we can make changes in our habits or simply tend to our own needs regularly. Peer Team members can teach some simple grounding or calming techniques. These are skills that will sustain us through the challenging times on our work and life and they are easy to learn and practice. Although a pandemic is not the same as a critical incident, it could quite possibly be the most significant event in a career for some people. If we can keep the body healthy and help the mind to remain calm throughout this time, we can go a long way in supporting the wellbeing of our healthcare workers.
The COVID10 Pandemic has been compared to a marathon…the difference in this race is that someone keeps moving the finish line. It is our greatest hope that when the paramedics, nurses, physicians, specialists and all other support workers within healthcare settings are standing at the other end of this experience and able to consider the work they have done, they know they were not alone. A team of their peers and a whole spectrum of mental health support stood alongside them to listen, to honor their experiences and support them as they grow beyond this moment in time. From all of the CISM Teams in our province to yours, thank you to all those caring for others right now. Thank you so very much for the sacred work that you do.
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International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc is a 501(c)3 Non Profit