Blackcomb Helicopters promotes Critical Incident Stress Management program (CISM) ― a benchmark initiative for mental health support in the aviation industry.

When we think of first responders, we tend to envision paramedics, firefighters, police, military, and other agencies involved in high-stakes rescue operations. Add to that list, aviation professionals, and the critical role they play as first responders ― particularly in Canada’s mountainous communities where emergency response calls are high and the pressures intense.

The aviation professionals at Blackcomb Helicopters face these pressures daily, and while they range from mild to catastrophic, the ensuing stressors can take a toll on the mental, emotional, and physical health of affected employees. In recognition of this, McLean Group CEO, Jason McLean, endorsed an in-house initiative to mitigate the impact of traumatic events with a Critical Incident Stress Management program (CISM) adopted by other first responders.

“I spent a few years on the Vancouver Police Board,” says McLean, “and was struck by their leadership as an early adopter of CISM principles in securing effective support for their people in need of help. After seeing a couple of our own staff at Blackcomb Helicopters exposed to traumatic events on the job and having little to offer them other than kind words and a 1-800 number, I was keen to support a CISM program at Blackcomb Helicopters.”

Critical Incident Stress Management is a comprehensive, multi-component approach designed to help individuals cope with the stress responses that follow traumatic events.  “It is not a single response,” says Jess Ram, former police officer, Certified Canadian Counsellor, and CISM consultant, “but rather, a suite of interventions aimed at stabilizing affected individuals, mitigating stress reactions, and restoring adaptive functioning.”

Ben Hawkins, Blackcomb Helicopters Pilot, CISM team lead, and local SARS member expands on the importance of this specific to the aviation professionals at Blackcomb Helicopters who, “regularly encounter significant traumatic events ranging from mass-casualty avalanches, body recoveries, aviation accidents, or the aftermath of natural disasters. Without intervention, these experiences can have a profound psychological impact on the individuals involved, possibly leading to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. We have a responsibility to identify the dangers of not safeguarding the mental health and well-being of our employees.”

“Discussions of mental health are becoming more mainstream,” adds Tracy Rogers (VP Human Resources & CISM program chair at Blackcomb Helicopters), “but stigma around mental health remains in the workforce. We aim to normalize and address mental health the same way we do with other health issues. We certainly accept that if an employee strains a muscle, they receive physio support or chiro. Why should mental health be any different?” 

Rogers notes that the introduction of CISM has had a profound impact on the well-being and morale of Blackcomb Helicopters’ staff.  Employee participation and acceptance of the program have been overwhelmingly positive, and there has been an increasing openness with which employees now discuss their mental health experiences.  Surveys and other employee feedback methods also indicate employees feel more supported ― and more willing to seek help when needed.  Blackcomb ownership continues its steadfast support of this program and has not hesitated in offering BHLP’s CISM team services when other operators have experienced a traumatic event.

The CISM program at Blackcomb Helicopters is comprised of trained employees (team peers), equipped to address issues ranging from individual exposures to full group de-briefs after major events.  Following CISM protocols, team members are trained to recognize and identify changes in mental health and performance; to provide support and help; to stabilize and restore day-to-day functioning of an individual; and to connect individuals with additional mental health support if needed. In providing immediate intervention, CISM mitigates initial stress reactions that can escalate if left unaddressed.  Trained peers, who understand the unique challenges of the aviation industry, can take steps to normalize emotional responses to critical incidents and in doing so, foster resilience and prevent the development of chronic stress conditions.

“As an organization,” says Jason McLean, “we now have a better handle on how trauma can manifest and how important it is to resource CISM properly and well before you need it.”