It is not uncommon for peer support teams (PSTs) to be trained and deployed solely to assist staff affected by critical incidents. These are typically defined as incidents involving violence, injury, or death (VID)—whether the death occurred from natural or unnatural causes. In essence, the term refers to highly stressful, life-threatening, and potentially psychologically traumatizing events.
However, limiting peer support to critical incidents only has several important drawbacks. Below are four reasons why this approach falls short.
- Limited reach. Usually, only staff who were physically present during the incident are approached by the PST.
- Inconsistent definitions. Different agencies may define “critical incidents” in varying ways. As a result, some VIDs may trigger a peer support response while others do not—even though the excluded events may also be deeply traumatizing.
- Unrecognized secondary impact. Staff who were not physically present may still be profoundly affected. Examples include:
- Employees whose friends were assaulted, even if they work at another facility.
- Those triggered because the event reminds them of a prior incident.
- Individuals who unjustifiably experience guilt or shame for not being on site to help colleagues.
- Staff who overheard the event on the radio or watched it unfold on video.
- Other sources of distress. Critical incidents are not the only events that can harm staff wellness, functioning, and performance—and, in turn, impact the agency’s mission. For every critical incident, there may be numerous other professional or personal stressors that take a toll. Examples include workplace conflict, moral injury, personal or family health issues, financial strain, addiction, general Corrections Fatigue, or traumatic experiences outside of work.
For these reasons, Desert Waters’ Peer Supporter Training™ prepares peer supporters to assist colleagues who are struggling not only after critical incidents, but also with any personal or professional challenges that threaten their well-being.
