Volunteers in Indiana Sought to Aid Crisis Responders

May 12—Who rescues the rescuers—police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians—when they see or hear something unforgettably bad at a scene?

About 25 volunteers, 10 active, who are a part of the Southeastern Indiana Regional Critical Incident Stress Management Team, which serves persons in 12 counties, including Ripley, Franklin, Dearborn and Decatur, notes director Janice Hosmer, Sunman. The team formed in 2006 to assist in minimizing the harmful effects of critical incidents.

She points out law enforcers, fire and EMS personnel are "exposed to this daily. It just seems to build. You get a bad run ... (then one more). You don't have time to kick back ... and breathe. We give them the opportunity to breathe."

Hosmer defines a critical incident as "any unforeseen or unexpected accident, violence, threat or emotional situation that an individual or a group witnesses or experiences that has resulted in or may result in that person or group suffering extreme mental anguish."

While the team mostly helps responders, volunteers also have been summoned to aid victims. According to the director, "We have been to businesses, a factory -- a co-worker was killed." After a robbery, they were called to a bank, where workers were thinking, "'I don't know if I want to come back to work.' We understand that. We've been to a school where there was a child who was killed in a farming accident. We were there most of the day." The team talked to each class, answered questions and were available if students wanted to speak privately.

SIRCISMT answers to the Indiana State Mental Health Disaster Team, which is part of the Indiana State Department of Health Division of Mental Health and Addictions.

The team members include mental health professionals, social workers, educators, emergency responders, public safety service providers, nurses, clergy, businesspeople, retirees and people who just want to help others.

The person or agency needing help must ask for the free service. Typically, a call will come into a county's 911 communications center or Hosmer is contacted directly.

"We're the front line. When it happens, we'll be there within 72 hours tops. We'd like to be there within 24."

"We're not counselors," Hosmer says. "We do not do mental health counseling .... Our job is to start the healing process. That usually starts with being able to talk about it." Because confidentiality is required, "we do not take any notes ... we don't report." The incident's date, number of team members who responded, number of miles and how many were in attendance are recorded.

They offer education about short- and long-term stress reactions and how to alleviate stress. Loved ones may be given handouts with advice on how to be supportive. Memories of the incident "are not going to go away overnight, but they will lessen," the director reassures.

Interventions last an hour or two. If a person seems to be really struggling, a team member will say, "'I think you may need more than what we're able to give you. Here's a list of places you can go.'" Sometimes a volunteer will call Community Mental Health Center or another agency and make an appointment.

"We can always use more members," the director says. "These incidents don't happen every day. You take this training ... then nothing happens." When Hosmer is notified of a crisis, she starts calling the team's volunteers, asking "Can you go?" Members do not get reimbursed for mileage, meals or other expenses.

Skills needed are to be able to keep the incident confidential, listen without interrupting and have a caring attitude. Interested volunteers may call Janice Hosmer at 812-654-2180 or jehosmer48@gmail.com.

"We'll give them the training that they need." One workshop, psychological first aid for mental health, is open to the public and will be "quite interesting," she predicts. It is scheduled for Saturday, May 23, from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at St. Paul United Methodist Church south of Sunman.

Of the team, Hosmer stresses, "We're conscientious about what we do and we're all believers in what we do."

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