Processes for dealing with critical incidents, or potentially traumatizing events, have been in place in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) since the early 1990's. Originally there were only single service policies, but one of the key early goals of the ADF Mental Health Strategy has been the development of tri-service, multi-disciplinary policies in a number of areas, including how the ADF responds to these events.
In 2002 the ADF contracted the Australian Centre for Post-traumatic Mental Health to review the literature in the field and identify what was best practice for implantation in the ADF. A comprehensive consultation process involving mental health key stakeholders in Defence and the Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, led to the development of the Critical Incident Mental Health Support (CIMHS) framework.
This framework is more flexible catering better to the needs of commanders and ADF personnel while ensuring that best practice clinical interventions are provided where required. Key elements of the framework are more comprehensive screening of individuals to determine the needs of individuals, a clear role for chaplains in dealing with the spiritual issues that are often a major part of dealing with these types of incidents (including the grief associated with the loss that is often involved), and an assertive follow up process that addresses one of the major deficits of the previous model.