Critical Incident Stress Management

For Debriefings call:  801-779-2865

Critical Incident Stress Management Team

The Utah Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Program has been established to assist emergency service workers throughout the State. The CISM Team comprises mental health professionals and peer support personnel who are trained to assist emergency responders in dealing with the stress of their profession.

The main objective of CISM is to provide crisis intervention during or after critical incidents in order to minimize stress-related injuries to emergency personnel. CISM is both a psychological and educational group process designed to:

  1. Lessen the impact of critical incidents to which emergency personnel respond.
  2. Accelerate the recovery process of emergency personnel who suffer from stress-related injuries.

Some examples of critical incidents are suicide, death, or serious injury of an emergency service worker; high media interest in an event; a prolonged event; injury or death of a child; a mass casualty incident; threats to an emergency service worker's safety; a natural disaster; or any event that troubles an emergency worker who participated in the event.

History of CISM

Don Arends Award Recipients

What Can CISM do for You?


Debriefing - A debriefing, usually held 24-72 hrs after an event, is intended for the first responders after a horrific event for your and other participating organization members who were on scene to discuss the event and help them deal with the emotions they are feeling including sadness, grief, fear, wanting to quit, etc. Please note: dispatchers are presumed to be on scene.

Defusing - A meeting for first responders immediately following a horrific event and sometimes during a long lasting event to "unload" emotions and or frustrations of what has or is unfolding. (We usually are not, however, able to be at the scene. Events such as the Price, UT, mining accident where first responders were needed for stand-by for several hours turning into days.)

Training - Informative training events to help you deal with stressors, manage your life, and recognize warning signs and symptoms of mental exhaustion.

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Depression Hurts Your Little Ones Too

When you are depressed or stressed out, it affects your children as well. CISM specializes in debriefings and defusing for emergency personnel and their spouses.

Confidential, free, and usually within 72 hours we can go anywhere in Utah. Call (801) 779-2865 for activation or information.

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Free Your Feelings!

If your EMS, fire, law enforcement, dispatch, or hospital personnel have experienced a horrific event, call us. We'll help you release all of the negative feelings to help you feel free again.

Life is too important to be depressed. Confidential, free, and usually within 72 hours we can go anywhere in Utah. Call (801) 779-2865 for activation or information.

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Real Heroes are Human...and Have Feelings Too

CISM - the program for heroes that are hurting. Call us now at (801) 779-2865 for activation or information. We can hold a debriefing within 24-72 hours anywhere in Utah. We are completely confidential and free, and we will put together a team for your specific group.

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When You Just Can't Seem to Cope

Let us help! If your EMS, fire, law enforcement, dispatch, or hospital personnel have experienced a horrific event, call us.

Because life is too important to be left out. Confidential, free, and usually within 72 hours we can go anywhere in Utah. Call (801) 779-2865 for activation or information.

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