BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE APPLICATIONS LLC
Behavioral Risk Management Advisors

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MANAGING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH EMERGENCIES IN THE WORKPLACE

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In the post-pandemic environment, the prevalence of mental illness has increased from one in five (18.6%) to one in four (26.4) adults in the U.S.  Stress is at a high point, and workplace suicides are increasing. In addition to the human costs, untreated mental illnesses in the U.S. cost businesses more than $100 billion in lost productivity each year and play a role in workplace violence. 

 

​To safely and effectively respond to a mental health emergency in the workplace, it is important to approach the matter not just from the human resources, security, or legal perspectives but from a psychological perspective as well.

When witnessing a behavioral health crisis, managers and co-workers can be more than just bystanders--they can upstanders and help initiate a safe and effective response to a crisis until additional help arrives. Help your workforce recognize and respond to a mental health emergency in your workplace with this important training program.  

 

 

CODE RED: HUMAN BEHAVIOR IN CRISIS CONDITIONS

“CODE RED”, is an awareness level program intended for anyone involved in the various phases of emergency management, security, or business continuity planning. The program addresses both the emotional and behavioral responses to disasters, violent incidents, and public health emergencies, and introduces strategies and techniques for managing the individual and organizational impact of crisis events.

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PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

 

• Impact of disasters, terrorism, and other violent events on individuals and organizations

• Three types of behavioral responses to disasters and emergencies

• Typical and atypical emergency stress reactions

• Phases of individual, community, and organizational response to crisis events

• Rapid assessment and triage of trauma-exposed individual

• Developing effective behavioral countermeasures

• Elements of effective psychosocial support and intervention

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PSYCHOLOGICALLY INFORMED EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE (PIEPR)

 

Emergency and disaster policies, plans, and exercises must be based on what people are most likely to do in crisis conditions. An incomplete or inaccurate understanding of human behavior in critical incidents can complicate and compromise crisis response and recovery efforts. “Psychologically Informed Emergency Preparedness and Response” (PIEPR) is an awareness level course for emergency managers, law enforcement and security executives, as well as other decision makers who have a responsibility to understand and stay current with behavioral research. This program introduces must-know information to help leaders form accurate behavioral assumptions to guide plans and policies, emergency response protocols, drills, and exercises. 

 

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

 

• Myths and facts about disaster-related human behavior

• Current research about human behavior in disasters and emergencies

• Applying a tactical psychology approach: Using clinical information for its operational value

• Integrating human factors into policies, plans and exercises

• Crafting behaviorally accurate drills and exercises

 

 

BEHAVIORAL MANAGEMENT OF CBRNE* TERRORISM

 

The true tool of the terrorist is not chemical, biological, or radiological…it is psychological. Terror is fear, and terrorists seek to create and manipulate levels of fear to achieve their strategic goals. Acts of unconventional terrorism, using chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear materials, can result in unique and complex medical and psychological consequences. To develop effective countermeasures and strategies for consequence management, planners must be fully aware of the powerful psychological effects of these exotic hazards. 

 

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

 

• The strategic use of CBRNE agents in terrorism

• Psychological reactions to acts of conventional and unconventional terrorism

• Terror-producing aspects of CBRNE events

• Behavioral and cognitive responses to CBRNE agents

• Group, crowd, and mob behavior in CBRNE incidents

• Short- and long-term mental health implications

• Behavioral countermeasures and consequence management

 

*CBRNE = Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosive

 

BEHAVIORAL-BASED RISK AND CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS 

 

Violence, disasters, and other crises can expose an organization, its employees or students, customers, and guests, to serious danger. In addition to the risk of physical and psychological harm, crises can pose a serious threat to the organization’s brand and public image. Protecting an organization’s people, property, and reputation can only be done through thoughtful planning, training, and exercising all facets of the organization’s crisis management apparatus, including the communications team. “Behavioral Based Risk and Crisis Communications” is a hands-on, skill-building training program designed for communications department or public affairs team members, addressing the basics of crisis management, the roles of the crisis team and communications team, crisis communications team development, key concepts in disaster human factors, and message development. 

The program uses lectures, small group discussions, exercises, case examples, and video vignettes. Participants develop crisis communications competencies and can apply this knowledge immediately upon completing the program.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

 

• Definitions and phases of crisis events

• Differentiating between crisis and risk communications

• Disaster/Crisis Human Factors

• The role and responsibility of the crisis communications team

• Internal and external crisis communications priorities

• The “Three T’s” model of crisis communications triage 

• Crafting effective crisis and risk messages

• Crisis leadership and spokesperson skills

 

KEY EMPLOYEE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS (KEEP)

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This program was developed to keep critical employees focused and on the job during disasters or emergencies, “Key Employee Emergency Preparedness” (KEEP) offers an effective approach to ensure the availability of key personnel during times of crisis and reduce the impact of person-role conflict and operational stress that may diminish their effectiveness or ability to remain on task. The program introduces approaches to addressing the disaster-related needs of key employees and their families in a manner that increases their ability to fulfill critical roles and complete essential emergency-related tasks. 

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

 

• Understanding the causes and consequences of “person-role” conflict in essential personnel 

• Preparing crisis team members and other emergency-related personnel to care for their families while remaining “on the job” through critical incidents

• Developing and using Key Employee surveys and preparedness resources

• Establishing and ensuring support services for protection, response, and recovery of key personnel

• Promoting the development of personal communications plans and procedures

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