I have been involved in establishing a Critical Incident Stress
Management Program with the R.A.A.F and the Country Fire Service.
The principles and procedures for setting up such programs are fairly
well established (with changes to suit particular organisations, groups
etc). All the references etc given thus far would be able to offer you
solid guidelines for setting up your own program. Perhaps it would be
useful to consider using the pilots and cabin crew as "peers" rather
than counsellors per se. A peer is trained in the elements of CISD /
PTSD, coping skills etc. They are the first point of contact for
individuals who may have experienced a critical incident and they work
in conjunction with mental health professionals. An excellent book which
gives an overview of setting up a program within the workplace is:
Paton, D; "Dealing with Traumatic Incidents in the Workplace", Gull
Publishing Pty Ltd, 1992 (Business Management and Training Series)
Please forgive me if l am preaching to the converted and l wish you well
in developing your own program. I think two things are fundamental for
success in this field, it must be endorsed by senior management and it
must be owned by the people that you want it to look after.
Regards,
'
Jo-Anne Hamilton.
Surendra Ratwatte wrote:
>
> Hi All,
> My company is interested in setting up a group to be trained in counseling
> for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, should the unthinkable ever happen.
> Does anyone know if there is any training available for this? We would want
> to have line pilots (less intimidating) and possibly cabin crew, who have
> no prior experience in the field, to be trained as counselors.
> Any ideas?
> Surendra Ratwatte
> Captain B-777
> Emirates Airlines
> PO Box 92
> Dubai
> U.A.E.