When your workplace is disrupted by a tragic event, employees may feel overwhelmed, anxious, insecure, and distracted. Everyone reacts differently to stress events, but tragic workplace events are serious and can cause significant physical, cognitive, and emotional reactions. A team of experienced mental health consultants can help reduce the negative impact of the event and its long-term impact on the organization, speed recovery, and return people to everyday life. Critical event interventions can also prevent post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Types of traumatic events

Tragedies come in many forms. Typical traumatic events include the unexpected death of an employee, a chronic illness of an employee, an injury at work, robberies, shootings and other acts of violence, criminal attacks, industrial or natural disasters, or even organizational restructuring or dismissal. People who have witnessed the event or know the people affected can experience a number of symptoms of the stress response, such as:

• Insomnia, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, racing heart, headache and loss of appetite
• Nightmares, hyper vigilance, panic attacks, intrusive images and poor concentration
• Feelings of anxiety, guilt, depression, irritability, anger and fear
• Social withdrawal and self-medication with alcohol or other drugs [1]

Critical events can also trigger memories of previous intense stressors.

How Magellan’s Employee Assistance Program Can Help

Magellan’s Critical Incident Response (CIR) team consists of specially trained clinical staff who are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. CIR Consultants help employees process and manage the emotional and physical effects of a traumatic event.

The first step is to consult with you about what has happened and assess the situation. Once the situation is assessed and an action plan is developed, we will send a CIR consultant to your workplace within a reasonable and agreed time frame. The CIR consultant will carry out a structured intervention on site to help deal with the incident, if necessary, and will also be available to managers and individual employees if needed. Services are confidential and provide employees with the resources and support they need to cope with the stress and anxiety caused by the event and return to normal life.

Our broad spectrum of CIR services includes management consultancy, telephone crisis support, group and individual support for affected employees, as well as follow-up care.

Critical incidents and tragic events occur in all types of companies and industries. Preparation with an existing CIR program is key to effectively managing the aftermath and associated risks.

[1] https: //www.osha.gov / SLTC/emergencypreparedness/guides/critical.html

Overview

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder. Many people believe things about mental health disorders that aren’t true. Here are some myths about PTSD.

Myth: PTSD is in your head. It does not exist.

PTSD does exist. It is a recognized mental health problem that has been studied for many years. You may get PTSD if you have lived through a traumatic event that caused you to fear for your life, see horrible things, and feel helpless. Strong emotions caused by the event create changes in the brain that may result in PTSD.

PTSD has not always had the same name. It also has been called combat fatigue or shell shock.

Myth: Only soldiers or people in war zones get PTSD.

Anyone who sees or goes through a traumatic event can develop PTSD. A traumatic event is a horrible and scary experience. During this type of event, you think that your life or others’ lives are in danger. You feel that you have no control over what is happening. These events include violent crimes, sexual assaults, childhood neglect or abuse, and natural disasters such as hurricanes or earthquakes. Your job also could expose you to traumatic events. First responders at a traumatic event, such as firefighters and police, can develop PTSD.

Myth: You should be able to move on after a traumatic event.

The strong emotions you may feel during the traumatic event can create changes in your brain that result in PTSD. You may not be able to “move on” because of this. It’s important to remember that PTSD is a medical condition. People with other health conditions, such as cancer, deal with the condition as best they can. The same is true for PTSD.

Myth: PTSD always happens right after the traumatic event.

PTSD symptoms can develop at any time after a traumatic event. Your symptoms may start soon after the event, or you may not have them until months or years later. They may come and go over many years.

Myth: People with PTSD cannot function.

PTSD can cause severe symptoms, but counseling, medicines, and support all help people adjust. People with PTSD have jobs and relationships. They enjoy life and are active members of their communities.

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Traumatic events, such as a sudden death, natural disaster, motor vehicle accident, or terrorist attack can leave children and teens feeling stressed, frightened, and helpless. Whether they personally witness the event or are exposed to it on the news or social media, children may experience intense emotions and a heightened sense of insecurity. Children’s reactions to a traumatic event depend on their age and personality, the severity of the event, the availability of support, and previous experience of trauma

Tips for all ages

Traumatic events can disrupt children’s sense of safety and result in fears and worries, nightmares, and physical reactions such as headaches, stomachaches, problems sleeping, and loss of appetite. Here are suggestions to help children through the emotional and physical challenges they may face after trauma:

• Be aware of your own reactions to the event and manage your own stress. Stay calm and offer hugs and reassurance to help restore your child’s sense of safety and security.
• Share information about the event and answer your child’s questions honestly. Listen to your child’s fears and let him/her know it is okay to share his/her feelings at any time.
• Limit or prevent exposure to disturbing news and social media coverage of the event. Children who see graphic images or hear distressing news stories may become re-traumatized.
• Maintain stable routines as much as possible, including regular mealtimes, bedtimes, and exercise.
• Engage in fun activities to help children relax and feel that life is returning to normal.
• Watch for signs of trauma, even after weeks have passed. Children cope with trauma in different ways, and some may show signs of sadness, anxiety, and troubling behavior weeks or months after the event.

Tips by age group

Preschool age

After a traumatic event, children who are age five and under may display behavior from an earlier stage of their lives, such as bedwetting, thumb-sucking, clinginess to parents, and fearfulness of strangers. They may have tantrums or cry more than usual, or become withdrawn from others. Parents and other adults can help children by providing comfort and reassurance, maintaining routines as much as possible, encouraging them to express their feelings, and giving simple explanations to children’s questions about the event. Children look to their parents for cues as to how to feel and react, and will pick up on a parent’s distress or anxiety. It is best not to expose young children to the news on TV or the radio about the traumatic event. Involving toddlers and preschoolers in fun activities and playtime with others will provide a healthy distraction.

Early childhood

Children ages 6 to 11 may show some of the same reactions that younger children have, such as reverting to more childish behaviors. They may have nightmares or trouble sleeping, find it difficult to concentrate in school, become irritable, anxious or disruptive, or lose interest in family, friends, and fun activities. Parents should reassure children that they are safe and will be taken care of no matter what. Encourage family discussion about the event and answer questions, but be careful about exposing children to news and TV footage. Keep bedtime and meal routines as normal as possible, and involve children in activities that keep them busy. Identify the positives such as community recovery activities and the ways people help each other get through difficult times.

Adolescence

Older children ages 12 – 17 may have stress reactions such as nightmares and flashbacks of the event, lose interest in school, hobbies, and friends, feel angry, guilty, or depressed, withdraw from others, have physical symptoms such as headaches, or abuse alcohol or other drugs. As with younger children, parents can help teens rebuild a sense of trust and safety by listening to their concerns without judgment and providing them with peer support opportunities. Age-appropriate volunteer activities can help teens feel useful and productive.

When to get help

Be aware of signs that a child may need extra help coping with the trauma. If six weeks or more have passed since the traumatic event and your child is not feeling better, has trouble functioning at school or at home, is withdrawn from friends and family, or continues to have physical complaints such as headaches, stomach pains, and problems sleeping or eating, contact a mental health professional.