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Mental Health Support for Nurses: How to Access Debriefings and Peer Support After a Critical Incident
Mental Health Support for Nurses: How to Access Debriefings and Peer Support After a Critical Incident
Sometimes it’s not just the shift itself.
The replay of a code, the patient you can’t stop thinking about, or the silence that follows a loss. Nurses often find themselves searching for “mental health support for nurses,” “how to debrief after a traumatic event,” or “peer support after patient death.”
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. What you’re looking for is support that helps you come back to center. Debriefings are one of the most effective, evidence-informed ways to process acute stress and prevent long-term burnout.
Why Debriefings Matter
Debriefs are structured conversations that give nurses space to talk, reflect, and release tension after difficult or emotionally charged events.
They’re not therapy but they help bridge the gap between “just getting through it” and actually healing from what you’ve experienced.
A quick 10 to 20 minute debrief can:
Normalize emotional reactions after a tough event
Strengthen team connection and trust
Identify lessons or improvements in care
Reduce compassion fatigue and emotional exhaustion
The key is safety: no judgment, no hierarchy, just nurses sitting next to one another, not across.
Common Types of Debriefings
1. Informal peer debrief – A short, open discussion among colleagues right after an event
2. Well-being debrief – A guided, peer-led check-in focused on emotional processing and self-care
3. Psychological First Aid (PFA) – An evidence-informed approach that emphasizes safety and stabilization over forcing anyone to talk
4. Formal debriefing – A structured session led by a trained facilitator or EAP counselor
Each has the same goal: helping you and your team release the weight of what happened, gain perspective, and recover together.
How to Access Mental Health Support or Debriefings
1. Start where you are. Ask your charge nurse, educator, or manager if your facility offers “well-being” or “critical incident” debriefs. Many hospitals already have these programs in place.
2. Connect with peers. If there’s no formal program, invite your team to join a quick “post-shift huddle.” It can be as simple as, “That was heavy, want to take ten minutes to talk before heading home?”
3. Explore outside support. Look for local or online peer groups for nurses. Some are free, others are part of wellness initiatives or CE programs.
4. Know when to reach out for more. If distress lingers beyond a few days or affects sleep, concentration, or mood, it’s time to contact a counselor or your facility’s EAP program.
Free Tools for Nurses
To make it easier, I’ve created a few free downloadable tools you can use on your unit or for yourself:
Critical Incident Checklist — A practical tool for managers and team leaders to respond quickly and effectively after an incident.
Trauma-informed Huddle Report Sheet — Guides team huddles through a trauma-informed lens. Helps leaders and staff center empathy, communication, and psychological safety.
You don’t have to process hard shifts in silence.
Trauma-informed support means sitting next to you, not across from you — listening without judgment and reminding you that it’s okay to need care, too.
Whether you choose a formal debrief, a peer check-in, or a few quiet minutes with someone who “gets it,” taking time to pause is an act of strength, not weakness.
You’re human first, nurse second. It’s time we start treating it that way.
Explore More Support
Looking for a space to connect, reflect, or explore ongoing debriefing options?
Visit our Support Page to learn about evidence-informed support for acute and long-term stress, trauma, and burnout designed specifically for nurses and healthcare professionals.
By: Shauntel Howard, MSHI, BSN, RN-CHC
References
Edwards, Jennifer. “Debriefing for Clinical Learning | PSNet.” Ahrq.gov, 18 Nov. 2021, psnet.ahrq.gov/primer/debriefing-clinical-learning.
“Mental Health Support for Nurses | Nevada State University.” Nevadastate.edu, 2025, nevadastate.edu/son/rn-bsn/mental-health-support-for-nurses/.
Updated. “Well-Being Debriefings for Health Care Workers: Facilitator Training Manual.” Www.capc.org, 15 Mar. 2022, www.capc.org/documents/929/.
Wells, Sarah . “The Impact of Nurses’ Work Environment on Mental Health and Suicide.” Critical Care Nurse, vol. 44, no. 3, 1 June 2024, pp. 6–8, aacnjournals.org/ccnonline/article/44/3/6/32454/The-Impact-of-Nurses-Work-Environment-on-Mental, https://doi.org/10.4037/ccn2024726.
