Local Assistance for First Responders in Crisis
For the past 30-plus years, the Lake–Geauga Critical Incident Stress Management Team in Willoughby Hills has been bolstering mental health support for first responders.
For the past 30-plus years, the Lake–Geauga Critical Incident Stress Management Team in Willoughby Hills has been bolstering mental health support for first responders.
“The Lake-Geauga CISM Team is a volunteer organization of first responders and mental health professionals that provides peer support, education, training and critical incident response services to the first responders of Lake and Geauga counties, as well as their families,” said CISM Vice President Blake Rogers in a statement. “We have served our first responders since 1988 and over the past twelve months, we have had the privilege to help over 140 first responders alone. All of our services are provided at no cost.”
The Lake–Geauga CISM Team was founded as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit composed entirely of trained volunteers, according to a press release.
Its multidisciplinary roster includes more than 20 fire personnel, law enforcement officers, dispatchers, nurses, chaplains and mental health professionals — all certified through the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Rogers said in a statement.
The team operates as part of the Ohio CISM Network in partnership with organizations such as the Fraternal Order of Police Critical Incident Response Service, he said, adding it provides critical incident stress debriefings to facilitate group processing of traumatic events.
One-on-one peer support sessions and educational workshops on stress recognition, mitigation and long-term resilience are also available, according to a press release, which also noted confidential assistance is available to all law enforcement, fire, emergency medical service, hospital staff, coroner’s investigators, dispatchers and other emergency personnel.
“The team strengthens community resilience by ensuring critical-incident exposures do not erode performance or the well-being of those affected,” Rogers said.
The team holds meetings every other month at fire and police departments throughout Lake and Geauga counties. All services are strictly confidential and free.
First responders, families and agency partners seeking support or further information can reach the Lake–Geauga CISM Team at info@cismlakegeauga.com or by calling the Lake County Crisis Hotline at 440-953-8255 (TALK).
