Team helps members cope with traumatic events Published Feb. 27, 2009 AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- Coping with the emotional aftermath of a traumatic event can be hard. But people at Aviano don't have to face it alone. The Traumatic Stress Response or TSR team, formerly known as the Critical Incident Stress Management or CISM team, is a group of representatives from the Mental Health Flight, Airman and Family Readiness Center and Base Chapel that helps prepare people for what they may face after experiencing a traumatic event. The commander-driven program, which serves active duty military, civilians, and contractors in on-base organizations and geographically-separated units, takes a more personable and malleable approach to helping people cope with unusual traumatic events than the former CISM. TSR teams are part of a Department of Defense-directed initiative which operates under Air Force Instruction 44-153 at each Air Force base. Technical Sgt. Melissa Fletcher, NCOIC of the Mental Health clinic, said the TSR team explains how to distinguish before and after an event between normal and abnormal symptoms when dealing with a traumatic event and what actions to take. Sergeant Fletcher said the team performs what she calls "psychological first aid" when traumatic events occur. "This program is directly related to getting our folks back up to speed after a traumatic event," she said. "We have a mission to do, but above all, we take care of our folks." "It's a great opportunity for individuals because a lot of times people don't realize they're going through a stressful event," she said. "Even though it may be part of someone's job, they may need help." Different from CISM, TSR teams can meet both group and individuals needs by offering briefings and individual counseling. Individuals can receive four free, undocumented counseling sessions to work through problems dealing with stress after a traumatic event has impacted them. For more information about the Traumatic Stress Response Team, please contact the Mental Health clinic at 632-5321.