Skip to main navigation Skip to main content Skip to footer
  • For Medicare
  • For Providers
  • For Brokers
  • For Employers
  • Search
    Search
    EspaƱol
  • For Individuals & Families:
  • For Individuals & Families:
  • Shop for Plans

    Shop for Plans

    • Plans through your employer
    • Learn about the medical, dental, pharmacy, behavioral, and voluntary benefits your employer may offer.
    • Explore coverage through work
  • Log in to myCigna
  • Log in to myCigna
  • Shop for Plans

    Shop for Plans

  • Member Guide
  • Find a Doctor
  • Home Knowledge Center Critical Incident Stress Management

    Critical Incident Stress Management Services

    The following information is for employer-based plans.

    What is Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)?

    CISM is a service that helps you handle the impact of any workplace event that you believe may disrupt the present or future productivity of your workforce due to psychological stress or trauma. Incidents like these take a toll not only on individual employees, but on the organization itself. Critical Incident Stress Management services may reduce the potential for absenteeism, presenteeism, low morale, diminished productivity, employee turnover, and disability claims.

    How do I access CISM services?

    If you have an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), your management staff calls the EAP toll-free number and asks for the Employee Assistance Consultant team. A consultant will work with you to determine the most appropriate level of response for the specific incident.

    What CISM services are typically provided by an EAP?

    • Management consultation/needs assessment

    • Onsite group and individual support

    • Group or individual support by phone

    • Customized seminars regarding grief and loss, managing change, stress management, resilience, and more

    • EAP handouts with additional support and information

    • Community resource referrals

    How does CISM help?

    A range of interventions are used to minimize and manage stress from critical incidents, and to assist in the recovery of individuals and the organization as effectively and efficiently as possible. The goal is to prevent or minimize long-term stress responses, enhance employees’ overall adjustment at work and home, and support the normal functioning of your organization.

    What happens during an onsite debriefing?

    Debriefings provide an opportunity for attendees to talk about what happened and to process the emotional and psychological impact of the event. A debriefing offers a safe environment for employees to share thoughts and feelings and support one another. The facilitator helps to normalize their responses to the event, provide information about stress management and/or coping with grief, and inform about possible resources including the EAP. These services can be delivered to a group of employees or individually. The facilitator also may make available educational handouts specific to the incident.

    Examples of Critical Incidents

    • Death of an employee (on or offsite)

    • Industrial accidents

    • Workforce reduction/reorganization

    • Natural disasters

    • Threats of violence

    • Robberies

    • Homicide

    • Suicide

    • Acts of violence or terrorism

    There may be other incidents, in addition to those listed above, that can cause stress, grief, or trauma. Call your EAP representative to determine the best response.

    Tags

  • Trauma
  • Grief
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • This material is provided by Cigna HealthcareSM for informational/educational purposes only. It is not medical/clinical advice.

    I want to...
  • Get an ID card
  • File a claim
  • View my claims and EOBs
  • Check coverage under my plan
  • See prescription drug list
  • Find an in-network doctor, dentist, or facility
  • Find a form
  • Find 1095-B tax form information
  • View the Cigna Healthcare Glossary
  • Contact Cigna Healthcare
  • Audiences
  • Individuals and Families
  • Medicare
  • Employers
  • Brokers
  • Providers
  • Secure Member Sites
  • myCigna member portal
  • Health Care Provider portal
  • Cigna for Employers
  • Client Resource Portal
  • Cigna for Brokers
  • The Cigna Group Information
  • About Cigna Healthcare
  • The Cigna Group
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Investors
  • Suppliers
  • Third Party Administrators
  • International
  • Evernorth Health Services
  • Cigna Healthcare. All rights reserved.
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Legal
  • Product Disclosures
  • Company Names
  • Customer Rights
  • Accessibility
  • Non-Discrimination Notice
  • Language Assistance [PDF]
  • Report Fraud
  • Sitemap
  • Washington Consumer Health Data Privacy Notice
  • Cookie Preferences
  • Disclaimer

    Individual and family medical and dental insurance plans are insured by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (CHLIC), Cigna HealthCare of Arizona, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Illinois, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Georgia, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of North Carolina, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of South Carolina, Inc., and Cigna HealthCare of Texas, Inc. Group health insurance and health benefit plans are insured or administered by CHLIC, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company (CGLIC), or their affiliates (see a listing of the legal entities that insure or administer group HMO, dental HMO, and other products or services in your state). Accidental Injury, Critical Illness, and Hospital Care plans or insurance policies are distributed exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of The Cigna Group Corporation, are administered by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, and are insured by either (i) Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (Bloomfield, CT). The Cigna Healthcare name, logo, and other Cigna Healthcare marks are owned by The Cigna Group Intellectual Property, Inc.

    All insurance policies and group benefit plans contain exclusions and limitations. For availability, costs and complete details of coverage, contact a licensed agent or Cigna Healthcare sales representative. This website is not intended for residents of Arizona and New Mexico.

    Selecting these links will take you away from Cigna.com to another website, which may be a non-Cigna Healthcare website. Cigna Healthcare may not control the content or links of non-Cigna Healthcare websites. Details