Differentiating different types of support

In determining whether to support people solely with peers or to include higher (CISM) level intervention it is important to understand the difference between the two. Because higher level support involves mental health professionals there are some differences in the support provided:

Peer Level Support:

Non-mental health professionals
Decompress individuals only
Shallower opening up of ‘feeling’ phase
Simpler restructuring process
Single type of intervention
Interventions run for approximately 20 mins

Higher Level Support:

Mental health professionals
Decompress groups as well as individuals
Deeper opening up of ‘feeling’ phase
More in-depth restructuring process
Provides a range of different types of interventions
Interventions run from 15/20 mins to 3 hours, depending on strategy
Multiple interventions can be run over short time fames
Differentiate homogenous and heterogenous groups
Assess the need for psychological treatment requirement during intervention