Peer Support & Trauma Response Program

Consultation provides the opportunity to guide organizations in a best practice approach to peer program and team development. Our team assumes a tailored approach from concept and needs assessment through phases of program and mental health awareness promotion, nomination, recruitment, screening, program evaluation and sustainability. Consultation may support the program development process, or inform a phase of team development such as coaching organizations on interviews and psychological screening.  

• Development of policy and best practice protocols
• Recommended tools and best practices including over 40 documents developed to support the program and operations
• Considerations in the nomination and recruitment process
• Promotion of mental health and the peer program
• Development of operational and communication infrastructures
• Screening and interview protocols
• Peer training
• Onboarding and implementation
• Sustaining the peer network
• Development of operational and communication infrastructures
• Program evaluation and ongoing training

Training provides essential preparation for peer learners in delivering individual support as well as group intervention to teams following a traumatic event. Simulation exercises with standardized patients enables learners to practice and integrate newly acquired skills in a safe learning environment and provides further opportunity for reflection, guided discussion and real time coaching.  Learners develop an essential suite of tools and resources that align with a best practice approach in peer support.  

• Understand how to cultivate a therapeutic and trusting connection with colleagues  
• Recognize indicators of common mental health issues and how to assess risk  
• Advanced development of communication skills 
• Knowledge in dimensions of mental health and psychological first aid  
• Training in an individual crisis intervention model  
• Introduction to Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)   
• Engagement of standardized patient (SPs) for interactive learning and practical skill development  
• Learning through blended modalities: video, simulation, observation, large and small group discussion and lecture   

Delivered over 14 hours. May be delivered in person or virtually. 

Designed to present the core elements of a comprehensive, systematic and multi-component crisis intervention curriculum, the Group Crisis Intervention course will prepare participants to understand the impact of trauma and the traumatic stress reaction as well as crisis intervention and the critical dimensions of mental health.  Learners are introduced to a range of crisis intervention approaches and evidence-based techniques. Fundamentals of Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) are outlined and learners acquire essential knowledge and tools that will enable facilitation of different levels of group crisis intervention, specifically demobilizations, defusing and the Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD).  

• Understand and explain Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) 
• Define key terms and concepts in CISM 
• Discuss psychological and behavioural reactions to stress and trauma 
• Understand Resistance, Resilience and Recovery 
• List the elements that must be considered in the strategic planning of crisis interventions 
• Learn to assess which type of intervention should be activated following an incident 
• Engage in mock Defusing and Debriefing group exercises  
• Stages of Crisis 
• Principles of Crisis Intervention 
• Critical Incident Stress 
• Traumatic Stress 
• PTSD  
• 6 Elements of CISM 
• Assessment 
• Tactical Components 
• Informational Group Interventions 
• Defusing 
• Critical Incident Stress Debriefing 

Delivered over 14 hours. May be delivered in person or virtually.