International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc.
International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc.
By: Rev. Dr. Derrick L. Doherty-CISM certified, Firefighter, Chaplain, Pastor
When I was first trained in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) in 2008, I was compelled, as a fellow first responder and a clergy person, to help our first responders dealing with trauma. The instructor of that first training session shared: ‘More first responders develop PTSD on a percentage basis than Vietnam veterans.’ This statistic motivated me to help our first responders. As a first responder, clergy person, community member and chaplain, since the training I have had my radar up for those dealing with critical incident stress. When appropriate I have offered the valuable tools of our CISM training to fellow first responders, congregants, and community members. As we know, we all experience trauma.
It was my experiences through offering CISM defusing and debriefings coupled with the above-mentioned statistic regarding PTSD and our first responders, that motivated me to take my studies further. Recently I graduated with my doctorate with my dissertation topic being “Faith Perspectives of First Responders: The impact of a faith community on first responders pertaining to trauma.” Through the dissertation journey I learned that since 2016, more first responders (police, fire fighters, and EMS personnel) have died from suicide than from line of duty deaths. As community members we need to help our first responders.
We have also witnessed the cumulative effects of trauma on individuals as well. There are multiple studies and testimonies (many shared in LifeNet) that clearly indicate the positive impact of CISM for anyone, including our first responders, when dealing with trauma. We all know these positive contributions. In addition to CISM, a wonderful resource for helping individuals process the trauma that they have experienced, there are also other resources that can help individuals pertaining to trauma. Physical exercise, healthy relationships, a balanced wholistic life, involvement in community organizations, including a faith community. From my personal experience as a first responder, I know that my faith community has greatly impacted, in a positive way, my ability to recover from trauma.
Within the dissertation research, 74% of the 170 participants indicated that their faith community has had a positive impact pertaining to trauma. The benefits of a faith community for an individual pertaining to trauma are included in all faith communities: sense of God’s presence, meaning-making, prayer, and a community. Regardless of the specific faith, all faith communities, have all four of these benefits intricately involved in their own being. What would it look like if you partnered with a local faith community in your area? What’s the name of a faith community leader who, if needed, you could offer their contact information? How might you partner with a faith community to offer even more services to your clients?
Thank you all for your dedication to CISM. Thank you for all you do for those impacted by trauma. Keep up the good work!
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International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc is a 501(c)3 Non Profit