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A strategy for trauma debriefing after railway suicides
Social Science & Medicine (1982)
|February 1, 1994
Summary
Following a rise in railway suicides, psychologists developed a professional debriefing and trauma counseling strategy for train drivers. This protocol aims to mitigate the severe short- and long-term effects of experiencing such traumatic incidents.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Occupational Health
- Railway Safety
Background:
- Increased railway suicide incidents prompted a need for enhanced support for train drivers.
- Existing management strategies were insufficient for the rising frequency of suicides.
- Traincrew leaders and management recognized the severe psychological impact on drivers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a professional approach to debriefing and trauma counseling for railway personnel.
- To understand the stresses associated with experiencing suicides and major incidents.
- To propose a standardized debriefing and follow-up protocol.
Main Methods:
- Collaboration between clinical psychology and British Rail.
- Psychological assessment of the stresses on drivers.
- Development of workshops for traincrew leaders.
- Implementation of a three-stage debriefing (shock, search, adjustment) and follow-up protocol.
Main Results:
- Strategies were developed to understand and address the psychological impact of suicides on drivers.
- Small group sessions provided insights into the experiences of affected drivers.
- Workshops facilitated the development of a support strategy for traincrew leaders.
Conclusions:
- A structured three-stage debriefing and follow-up protocol was established.
- The proposed protocol is recommended for adoption as standard procedure after suicides or similar traumas.
- This initiative aims to improve support for drivers and line managers facing critical incidents.