Altius Group Critical Incident Response

We have experienced psychologists available to attend a critical incident anywhere in Australia. Our psychologists can attend workplaces in-person or provide support via telehealth. We’re committed to providing support early to reduce the risk of psychological injuries that can occur well after the incident. 

With plans already in place for any hypothetical event, we know how we’ll handle it. Early intervention with professional service providers can reduce the risk of Acute Stress Disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Having psychologists on the ground to provide support following an incident can make the difference to our clients. Our experienced psychologists provide support in the hours, days and weeks after they arrive onsite.  

We support employees after a critical incident such as:

• Natural disaster
• Suicide
• Armed robbery
• Assault or violence in the workplace
• Serious near-miss or major safety issue
• Traumatic injury
• Workplace fatality
• Significant organisational issues

As part of our initial response to an incident, our psychologists screen individuals to identify those who may require additional support or need a referral to other services. The screening can also assess a victim’s trauma history and the likelihood of follow-up treatment. 

As one of Australia’s largest providers of Employee Assistance Programs, we have enough psychologists to ensure a large number of impacted staff receive help when it’s needed most.

Following a critical incident, our practice is to provide group psychoeducation to affected individuals which includes providing information around common reactions to trauma, normalising the trauma process, and helping people return to their normal routine as soon as possible.

Screening for trauma as part of a Critical Incident Response is important, as this:

• Prevents misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment planning.
• Can prevent further difficulties developing such as challenges in relationships, career and other aspects of life.

Staying connected with employees after an incident can assist with their recovery. A phone call can provide information that can assist in their psychological recovery. Being able to speak to a professional over the phone may be all that’s required for some victims while others may decide they need a longer consultation. The calls are also an opportunity to give a personal update on the status of injured colleagues.   

Engaging Altius Group to carry out Welfare Checks:

• Provides your workplace with peace of mind that your employees are being well cared for after a critical incident.
• Helps to ensure those who need further psychological assistance receive it when they need it most.
• Helps identify key concerns of employees to direct the best follow-up psychological support and counselling services for them.

Some employees involved in a critical incident may need more support than an initial visit to site or welfare check. One-on-one appointments with a psychologist can assist in their recovery and return to work. Appointments can be in one of our offices or via telehealth, whichever is more convenient. 

For some employees, one follow-up session is enough while others will need multiple sessions over months. Everyone’s recovery is different, so we ensure a tailored follow-up program is available.  

Our psychologists:

• Offer support to help employees understand emotional responses they may be experiencing following a critical incident.
• Are skilled in building resilience and supporting emotional wellbeing. 
• Are empathetic and experienced in providing psychological counselling and therapy services. Our psychologists have experience in supporting people with a full range of mental health issues using evidence-based interventions.
• Work proactively with employees to understand contextual factors and gain greater insight into variables that could be contributing to presenting problems. We also work collaboratively with other treating professionals to mitigate distress and improve overall levels of functioning.

Depending on the location and number of people involved in an incident, Altius Group can provide psychological support shortly after an incident occurs by phone or in person. Our psychologists have been supporting most of Australia’s emergency services employees for many years. We have valuable experience in providing psychological first aid to emergency staff and the public who have witnessed traumatic events. 

Our team of psychologists:

• Are experienced and empathetic.
• Are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week across Australia.
• Provide the support needed to help employees deal with emotional responses to critical incidents.
• Can ensure Psychological First Aid support is followed through with welfare checks and ongoing support services as required.