Critical Incident Stress Mgmt. Network

(406) 324-4777 (24-hour Contact)

The CISM Network is a non-profit corporation run by volunteers. The Network was established to organize the development of CISM teams across the State of Montana and form a resource for assisting with critical incidents. The organization is comprised of an executive committee, advisory committee, three regional representatives and the general membership. Members of the network include professionals from a wide array of agencies and professions. The Network meets on a quarterly basis. Their first meeting of the year is held at the Annual CISM Conference. To date, the effort has been very successful and the Network has become an extremely viable resource in Montana numbering at least 18 teams. CISM team contacts throughout the state may be accessed by calling the Montana Disaster and Emergency Services 24-hour number, (406) 324-4777.

Critical incidents can affect anyone and it is important to note:

A critical incident is any abnormal situation such as death, line-of-duty shooting, serious injury or threatening situation, which causes an individual to experience significant stress factors.

Symptoms of Post-Traumatic stress include: restlessness, chronic fatigue, anxiety, irritability, moodiness and suspiciousness. Studies indicate that more than 85% of emergency personnel have experienced acute stress reactions after working on one or more critical incidents. Studies also show that the long-term impact of critical incident stress is greatly reduced when responders have received pre-incident education along with post-incident intervention.

Legal Responsibilities:

Agency administrators, command officers, EMS personnel or medical control professionals are responsible for monitoring situations to identify those critical incidents which may require CISM attention.

Team Activation:

A team can be requested by anyone. Activation only occurs after consultation with the team’s clinical director. Access to the team contacts is through the Montana Disaster and Emergency Services 24-hour number, (406) 324-4777.

Important Link: International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc.