Tompkins County Launches Critical Incident Stress Management Team

Effective February 6th, the Tompkins County Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Team is available to assist local first responders with what is sometimes called ‘psychological first aid’.

CISM is an intervention protocol developed specifically for dealing with traumatic events. The CISM Team – consisting of first responders and mental health clinicians from across Tompkins County - will be activated for a specific incident and assist with short-term crisis response.

 

“The CISM Team is not a counseling or therapy provider or intended to be a substitute for either” said Joe Milliman, Tompkins EMS Program Manager and CISM Leader. “But rather, it is a team of first responders here to support the mental health of our fellow responders utilizing peer support.”

 

A CISM Team response can be requested to the scene for large-scale events, or at a debriefing a day or two afterwards. CISM is open to, and encouraged for, all first responders involved in the event who wish to attend.

 

“The CISM Team will work hand in hand with Overwatch Peer Support (OPS), which will focus on providing individual support to those requesting it,” stated Danielle Schwarz, Peer Support Coordinator at the Department of Emergency Response. “These two initiatives will work hand in hand towards addressing first responder mental health and removing the stigma surrounding it.” Overwatch Peer Support (OPS) is a program that will launch later this year through a partnership between NAMI Finger Lakes NY, NAMI North Texas, and Tompkins County Emergency Response.

 

Questions regarding the CISM Team or inquiries about joining the team should be directed to Joe Milliman, EMS Program Manager, at jmilliman@tompkins-co.org or Danielle Schwarz, Peer Support Coordinator, at dschwarz@tompkins-co.org