You can always find this page at PaulDuignan.consulting/firstresponders

Supportive elements

• Personal characteristic responses - such as optimism, self-efficacy, self-esteem

• Condition resources - such as organisational support, home support, camaraderie, advice, good working conditions

• Energy resources - such as physical health, time, money

• Object resources - such as a car, house etc.

Sattler et al. (2014) quoted in Darby (2019) p. 45.

Coping mechanisms

• Active coping planning

• Positive reframing

• Acceptance

• Humour

• Religion

• Emotional support

Te Whare Tapa Wha

• Spiritual

• Mental and emotional

• Physical

• Roots and land

• Family and social

Less useful

• Alcohol and drug misuse

• Denial

• Venting

• Behavioural disengagement

• Self-blame

Skeffington et al. (2017) quoted in Darby (2019) p. 24-25.

Work stresses

Interpersonal conflicts with colleagues and or supervisors

• Role conflicts

• Time pressures and work overload

• Issues related to career development and lack of job security, as well as under/over promotion

• Lack of involvement in decision-making, or organisational climate and structure.

Lewis (2014) quoted in Darby (2019) p. 42.

Interventions

Debriefing

1. Introduction phase – Team members introduce themselves and describethe debriefing process.

2. Facts phase – Helps participants to begin talking about what they did at the incident.

3. Thoughts phase – Participants are asked to share what they thought when they realised what was happening at the incident.

4. Emotions phase – This reaction phase is the heart of the debriefing. It focuses on the impact on the people involved and feelings of anger, frustration, sadness, loss and confusion are sometimes discussed.

5. Assessment phase – People are asked to reflect on their feelings at the time of the incident, and to describe any symptoms or signs of stress they areexperiencing.

6. Teaching or education phase – People are provided an opportunity to help them understand that any symptoms experienced are common reactions to the event.

7. Re-entry phase – Participants are able to ask questions or make final statements. There is a summary of what was discussed and any next steps were identified.

Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) New Zealand Fire Service (2014) p.7 quoted in Darby (2019).

Terms

K41 - a fatality has occurred.

Purple call - life threatening.

Please note when you are doing any type of psychological or self-development work, if you find yourself feeling overwhelming emotions, troubling thoughts or actions, you need to talk to a health professional.