How to Support a Loved One After a Critical Incident

Police and public safety professionals [law enforcement, fire, emergency medicine, security, and the military] are at risk for exposure to critical incidents in their line of duty.

The type, frequency, intensity, and duration of critical incidents vary somewhat by profession, but in general, these events involve violence or the threat of violence, human suffering, and or death and can affect the involved employee in a variety of different ways in the hours, days, weeks, and months following the incident. While agencies have specific protocols and resources in place that they utilize to navigate the incident and help their employees, families, friends, and other loved ones are actually in a unique position to support their loved ones after a critical incident.

Here are some examples of ways that you can support a loved one after a critical incident:

• Normalizing that their thoughts and feelings are normal reactions to a terrible situation.

• Opening the door for discussing their reactions, saying “I’m here to listen if you want to talk, but respect if you need space right now instead”.

• Allowing space if they ask for it.

• Encouraging healthy coping, including exercise, journaling, art, music, outdoor time, catching up on sleep, or other restorative activities.

• Monitoring isolation and detachment from others.

• Ensure they are taking care of the basics, such as sleep, appetite, hygiene, exercise, morning sunlight exposure, and so forth.

Friends and family are likely to be the first people to notice signs of a problem and to encourage their loved ones to get extra support to resolve these problems. If your loved one has recently experienced a critical incident and is struggling to “bounce back”, we can help. Reach out to The Ridge today.

-Dr. Jena Casas, Ph.D.