Crisis Intervention

Crisis intervention refers to the immediate and direct response provided to individuals or groups experiencing a crisis situation. A crisis is an event or circumstance that poses a significant threat to a person’s psychological, emotional, or physical well-being and overwhelms their coping mechanisms. Crisis intervention aims to provide immediate support, stabilization, and assistance to individuals in distress to help them regain a sense of safety and stability.

Goals:

The primary goals of crisis intervention include ensuring the safety and well-being of the individual in crisis, reducing the intensity of the crisis, restoring the individual’s functioning and coping abilities, and facilitating the individual’s access to appropriate ongoing support or treatment.

Process that takes place in Crisis Intervention:

Crisis assessment
Active listening and empathy
Emotional support
Problem-solving and action planning
Safety assessment and intervention
Follow-up and referral
Crisis intervention can be provided by mental health professionals, counsellors, social workers, hotline volunteers, or emergency personnel, depending on the setting and the nature of the crisis. The approach and techniques used in crisis intervention may vary depending on the individual’s needs, the severity of the crisis, and the available resources.