A critical incident can be defined as any event that has a stressful impact sufficient enough to overwhelm the usually effective coping skills of an individual. Critical incidents are abrupt, powerful events that fall outside the range of ordinary human experiences.

We have put together a Safety Help Sheet with tips on what to do immediately after a critical stress incident, how to handle the next few days, and the most commonly reported reactions after a critical incident. Because we want you to know that you are not alone. You can download that here.

There are several ways in which stress may impact your life. It can include stress or burnout, situations that individually might not be considered traumatic but overtime lead to a sense of incapacity and an inability to deal with perceived demands can be adopted for use in journalism, PR, and communications.

We have a Safety Help Sheet that tells you where that stress may typically come from, as well as various signs and symptoms of stress. The reason you are feeling the symptoms of stress matters much less than your ability to identify them and seek help when needed. Please download that sheet here and feel free to share it with your colleagues.