International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc.
International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc.
By: Mervyn Halverson, ICISF Member & Approved Instructor since 2004
2020 is certainly another year which will definitely go down in the history books. I say this not as a negative comment but rather one that has, is and will continue to bring a lot of change in and to the world that we know and live in. Being on the front lines since this epidemic began has certainly been very interesting and challenging, but yet, I have been totally amazed and so deeply blessed at all of the new doors that have opened in and around our world for those who walk this earth.
The hard part has been as I have served on the front line, is to see how the homeless population has and is being continually affected. As a Salvation Army Officer, for 28 years, I have served and come along side those who are homeless and those on the verge of homelessness. But this time, the needs, the life changes and the impacts they have experienced are so much greater for an extremely high number of people. I have served and come to the aid of countless people over the years during and after countless disasters such as 9/11 & Hurricane Katrina and many others as well. They have all been so different yet, they have had a lasting impression and now the COVID-19 is also uniquely fitting into this category as well.
Throughout these disasters I have seen how they have affected so many disaster workers, relief workers & those individuals and groups who have used their CISM training to come alongside of those who have been affected. For me, this time, the response I have been able to give, has been so unique, I am continually checking in on the responders to see how they are doing and to be there for them when things have gotten difficult, but the added experience for me is that I am taking a lot more time with the homeless and those on the verge of homelessness, because for them, the bottom has come out in ways they have never seen before. The one on one crisis intervention numbers have certainly hit new highs. The most unique opportunities that I have had for Crisis Intervention is when I have been transporting the homeless & those on the verge of homelessness for testing and then transporting them to isolation. Some days I must admit this has been extremely exhausting. But being able to have this quiet time with them to see how they are doing and to enable them to share about: how things are going in their life right now, what they are facing, and what they believe their tomorrows are looking like has really given me some great opportunities to come alongside of them. While transporting though, I have greatly noticed that much of the Non-verbal communication is difficult because I am separated from the individual and I am not able to see their body responses, but I have noticed that I am picking up even more so on the silence, and the intensity of the verbal expressions they are sharing. It is still sending a very powerful message to me. Listening not just to their words, but how they phrase them and how they express them verbally has come more to light for me while I am transporting them. This then has given me more opportunity to “Mirror” back to them all that I have heard and felt they are saying. As I am writing this I am reminded, once again, about how important the CISM info sheet with the “common signs and signals of a stress reaction” is, even for the homeless. So many of them are experiencing a number of the symptoms that are listed under the: “Physical, Cognitive, Emotional, Behavioral, & the Spiritual” columns. Over the years as I have come alongside people, this information sheet has truly made a difference in the life of so many of them. Today, as I am serving a lot of the homeless during these days, this tool, this information sheet is turning the lights on for them and they are understanding that these are normal reactions by a normal person who has experienced something horrible in their life. I then can show them and highlight point #3 on the 2nd page under ‘Things to Try’ and that is “You are normal and having normal reactions; don’t label yourself crazy”. Sad to say many of the homeless have felt they are going crazy but it does not stop there, so many in the world at large, have also branded the homeless crazy as well! But taking the time to help them truly understand they “have experienced a traumatic event” and that the reactions they are experiencing right now or maybe even down the road are ‘normal reactions by a normal person’ to this horrific event that has and is taking place. As I say this, my mind flashed back to one transport I did for a homeless lady, and in that particular situation, one of her physical reactions was so strong, that I took the decision to not transport her to a testing site, but rather I transported directly to the Health Sciences Emergency Department where they could attend to the physical issue and then they could also do the COVID-19 testing.
The SAFER-R intervention has truly been a great and wonderful tool for being able to provide intervention in the lives of so many people over the years, but here and now today, during this World Crisis, and here on the streets of Winnipeg, Manitoba, providing this support is truly making a difference for the people. Every time I provide a transport, I never know what I am going to face, but being able to introduce myself and meet some basic immediate needs is so huge. It might only be by providing a bottle of water, or by providing free transporting for them to be tested, then taking them to a place of isolation where they have a private apartment, their own bathroom and also a kitchen, this is so huge and for some they call it a miracle, because they never would have been able to have gone for testing if it was not for this service. Then another surprise is, all of their meals are delivered right to their apartment door. They are totally amazed by this.
After I have been able to take the time to do the “Assisting Individuals in Crisis Intervention”, it is so great to hear, know and feel that this time together has made a difference for them right now in their life. For each person, yes the intervention can be so different, BUT, being able to be at their side, just where they are at, in that very moment of time, during this world crisis, I know has made a difference for a number of people. Helping them, encouraging them and assisting them to begin to take some of the new/next steps in their lives is so huge, and for this alone, I am so happy and at peace during this crisis, to be able to serve those who walk the different pathways of this beautiful world.
In closing, one thing I have not said is we all need to remember to not only take some down time and rest, but we need to get some good physical activity/exercise for our body, and also make sure we too have someone we can go to, just to touch base with them so that we can check in to ensure we are doing okay as well. This is so important, because I will never forget back in 2012 after we had been responding to a disaster in our city where 200mm (almost 8inches) of rain had fallen in just 2-3 hours and the community was in ruin. I did not take time for rest or some physical activity, rather, I was working 20 hour days in the first week and then after a few more very long weeks where I was not taking care of myself, things went downhill very quickly. But I was so thankful after things hit rock bottom that I was surrounded by some amazing people and the assistance they gave me was totally miraculous. I say this to remind you, as you are reaching out to help those who are around you, please remember to take care of yourself as well. Because if we are not doing well, we will not be able to reach out and help those who are having difficulty and facing trials and stress during this COVID-19. Please take care of yourself, so you can be there to reach out and help those who are struggling during these days. Blessings my friends and thank you for what you are doing to reach out and help others.
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