Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Team:

The Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Team is an essential component to providing emotional support and psychological intervention to police officers and first responders who have experienced the impact of acute or cumulative stress and trauma. The NEMLEC CISM Team, established in 2017, is comprised of police officer of all ranks, dispatchers, correctional officers, mental health clinicians and chaplains who follow a peer-driven approach to lessening the effects of stress following the response to a critical incident.

All members of the NEMLEC CISM Team are trained in the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation’s (ICISF) Assisting Individuals in Crisis and Group Crisis Intervention model. The NEMLEC CISM Team is an approved ICISF CISM Peer Support Team, registered with the ICISF database. ICISF serves as the governing foundation and model of crisis intervention which affords all participants confidentiality under the Massachusetts Acts of 2018, Chapter 329. Members of the CISM team are expected to maintain strict confidentiality, except in cases where someone may be a danger to themselves or others.

Key components of the Northeastern Massachusetts CISM Team:

  • Peer-Driven Support: Specialized training of law enforcement peers from within the NEMLEC Member Communities, allowing for greater understanding and higher levels of trust.
  • Critical Incident Interventions: One of the primary functions of the CISM Team is to conduct critical incident interventions following traumatic events, providing a safe and confidential space for officers to discuss their experiences and emotions without fear of judgment or criticism.
  • Stress Management Strategies: CISM Team members are trained to recognize common signs and symptoms of stress and provide guidance in developing healthy coping mechanisms.
  • Referral to Mental Health Professionals/Resources: If necessary, CISM Team members can offer referrals and resources for further support.

The ultimate goal of the CISM Team is to lessen the overall impact of stress and trauma and accelerate the recovery of first responders who are having normal reactions to abnormal events.