Crisis Etiquette

Bubba Wilson discusses Crisis Behavior or Crisis Etiquette live from the Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Update. He has been leading D6 in ATsCare since its inception and has learned a lot over the years.

Crisis Behavior, Bubba Wilson

Discussion topics: 

Did crisis management help you be prepared for being inducted into the SWATA Hall of Fame?

AT Cares drove me there.

CCISM credential:

Certified Critical Incident Stress Management – Level 1 deals with individuals in crisis, the majority of AT Cares population. Level 2 deals with groups in crisis. 

Began Crisis Management training in 2019. 

AT’s managing grief:

Grief comes in at a later time, ATs have to finish the game/event after a critical injury/event.

AT Cares reaches out once notified to ensure assistance is provided where needed

NATA Gather Program Integration:

Young professionals can use NATA’s gather program to find mentors. 

Crisis on campus – what is the best method to find that definite grief to counsel them?

Don’t counsel them. Listen. Refer out. 

Soapbox Warning – What is step 1 in managing the secondary loss of loved ones?

Have affairs in order. Have a will, have life insurance. Have your burial wishes written down. Have the conversation. Have a list of your account usernames and passwords. Know how many death certificates you may need. Legal Zoom is a good resource. Make sure you constantly update your affairs. The primary loss will be exacerbated if we don’t handle our affairs. 

Currently working on a presentation with AT Cares members regarding their experiences with loss and what they’ve learned along the way.

Thanks, Sydney Hayes for creating the Crisis Behavior show notes

Contact Us:

Jeremy Jackson

Shawn Readyshawnreadyatc@gmail.com

Dr. Mark Knoblauchmaknobla@Central.UH.EDU

Dr. Layci Harrisonlharris5@Central.UH.EDU

Bob MarleyBob.Marley@uth.tmc.edu

ATCornerPodcastATCornerds@gmail.com

Joseph Eberhardteberhardtj@pearlandisd.org

Christina Fry – fryc@pearlandisd.org

These people LOVE Athletic Trainers and help support the podcast:

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Donate and get some swag (like Patreon but for the school)

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Crisis Behavior, HOIST

Mental Health EAP

Do you have a Mental Health EAP? Do you have a athletic injury EAP?

Dr. Hector Lopez of SMASA shares some of the tips for building a mental health EAP for Athletic Trainers

Complete the course work to earn Category A CEUs sponsored by Methodist Healthcare Sports Medicine of San Antonio – SportsMedicineBroadcast.com/CEU

Have you planned what to do in the event of a suicide threat or attempt?

The secondary setting is harder because we are dealing with minors

A good understanding of mental health

Video from YouTube – For NCAA student Athletes’ Mental health: a more educated approach

NCAA Sports Science Institute mental health awareness

According to the WHO it is a state of wellbeing in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities.

Mental illness refers to diagnosable mental disorders and health conditions

There is a stigma that it is a weakness

Myths about Mental health:

  • Children do not get mental health issues – 75% begin before age 24
  • Personality weakness or character flaws cause them
  • I can not do anything for a person with mental health problems

Examples:

  • Anxiety
  • Eating disorders
  • Major depression
  • PTSD
  • Adjustment disorder
  • Social anxiety
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Substance abuse
  • Co-existing learning disabilities
  • ADHD
  • Autism spectrum
  • Chronic Medical illness
  • Bullying
  • Hazing
  • Relationship Abuse
  • Sexual Assault
  • Gender Dysphoria
  • Unexpected Pregnancy
  • Gambling
  • Undiagnosed medical issue
  • Stressors affecting athletes
  • Team culture
  • Pressure to perform
  • Balancing demands

Identifiers for a mental health EAP

ID based on performance

Injury causes isolation or forced retirement

Burnout due to early specialization

Poor performance

“I can’t show weakness”

Dealing with injured athletes:

Listen

What does the injury mean to the athlete?

What is your team and AT Clinic culture?

Educate about the diagnosis

Correct any misinformation

Provide a road map for recovery

“Dr. google is a big problem in my world”

An emotional response to an injury is normal

Sadness

Isolation

Irritation

Lack of motivation

Anger

Frustration

Changes in appetite

Sleep disturbance

Disengagement

Response to injury

Stress can lead to increased injury, muscle tension, poor concentration, and performance

Can trigger depression

Problematic emotional responses

Persistent symptoms

Worsening symptoms

Excessive symptoms

Summary of possible symptoms

Barriers to care:

Stigma

Poor understanding

Difficulty willing to express

Lack of time

Denial

Fear

Worried about it affecting play

Not accessible

Facilitators:

  • Increased awareness
  • Social support
  • Encouragement from others
  • Accessibility
  • A positive relationship with staff
  • Confidentiality
  • Time
  • Integration into athlete life
  • Positive past experiences
  • Ease of expressing emotion

Treating injured Athletes

  • Rapport is key
  • Supportive culture
  • Respect privacy
  • Acknowledge and understand their identity may be tied to athletics
  • May be the first injury for them
  • Be on alert for red flags

Mental Health EAP TIPS

Interview the athletes away from other athletes or with another staff member if possible

Ask open-ended questions

If the concern is self-harm be blunt

Actively listen and allow them to talk without interruption

KNOW YOUR ATHLETE

RED FLAGS

Any talk of self-harm or suicide

Talking about hopelessness and empty

Making a plan for killing themselves

Talking about great guilt or shame.

Suicide hotline

www.nimh.nih.gov/sucideprevention

5 steps graphic

Identifty an Emergency

  • maintain safety for yourself and others
  • Call for help
  • Talk in a quiet place where you can defuse the situation
  • Do not leave the student alone but do not place yourself in danger
  • Develop policy and procedure and practice them

KOWN YOUR LIMITS

Your responsibility is to recognize and refer

Prevention

  • PPE
    • Are you stressed
    • Do you want to weigh more or less
  • Open-ended questions – 
    • are you sad, do you feel hopeless, do you feel safe
  • What are the protocols at your institution
    • Emergency scenarios
    • Keep names and numbers accessible
    • What about after hours?
    • National suicide prevention hotline
      • 800-273-TALK
      • Text – “help” to 741741

Resources on NCAA website

NATA has a list of resources as well

Sports Science Institute through NCAA

What your school says “we don’t talk about that?”

Start the conversation – they may not know

Use the models that are published

If you are going to bring a problem forward, bring a solution.

Lean heavily onto your team physician.

Get someone’s copy to help you build yours.

Do not be afraid to act…call 911 if need be.

Watch the Facebook live

Jeremy Jackson

Michael MacPherson – michael@sujibfr.com

Lisette Guerrero

Dr. Hector Lopez – hector.lopez@smasatx.com

Shawn Ready@ShawnReady_ATC

Jeremy Jackson@MrJeremyJackson

Get your CEUs

Financial Partners

Frio Hydration – Superior Hydration products.

Donate and get some swag (like Patreon but for the school)

HOIST – No matter your reason for dehydration DRINK HOIST

MedBridge Education – Use “TheSMB” to save some, be entered in a drawing for a second year free, and support the podcast.

Marc Pro – Use “THESMB” to recover better.