Crisis Intervention Research Articles

Psychological Techniques in Crisis Negotiation

Aim: Crisis negotiation is a very effective police tool for the successful and peaceful resolution of various types of crisis interventions, with different types of interventions being the focus of this review. Materials and Methods: One of the most effective communication skills negotiators use is active listening. Active listening involves focusing attention on what the person is saying without judging, while non-verbally and verbally letting the person know that he is being listened to. In the negotiation context, it calms the perpetrator, encourages him to talk, enables rapport building between the negotiator and the perpetrator, and encourages a change in the perpetrator’s behaviour. Results: Techniques that are most effective in crisis negotiation are paraphrasing, mirroring, “I” messages, minimal encouragements, pause, open-ended questions and emotion labelling. The paper also describes important factors for the effective use of active listening in crisis negotiation. Conclusion: Important factors for the effective use of active listening in crisis negotiation are non-judgmental acceptance, rapport building, maintaining dignity, authenticity, and empathy.

Call Centre Influence on the Delivery of Mental Health Services Among Young People: A Case of One2one Call Centre in Nairobi County

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of call centers on the delivery of mental health services among young people in Nairobi County. Specifically, the study aimed to investigate the impact of crisis intervention, round-the-clock availability, resource sharing, and follow-ups on mental health service delivery. Methodology: The study employed a descriptive-cross-sectional research design to assess the impact of call centers on mental health service delivery. The target demographic consisted of healthcare providers affiliated with the one2one Call Centre in Nairobi County. A sample size of 112 respondents was selected using basic random selection methods. Data was collected through the distribution of questionnaires, and Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 25 was utilized for data analysis. Descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, frequencies, and percentages were employed, along with correlation and regression analysis to evaluate the relationships between research variables. Findings: The study found that crisis intervention, round-the-clock availability, and resource sharing had a positive impact on the delivery of mental health services among young people in Nairobi County. Specifically, crisis intervention strategies were shown to significantly enhance the overall mental health support system, ensuring timely assistance for young individuals in need. Furthermore, maintaining round-the-clock availability allowed service providers to cater to the diverse needs and schedules of young people seeking assistance, thereby improving the overall delivery of mental health services across the county. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice, and Policy: This study makes several contributions to theory, practice, and policy in the field of mental health service delivery. Firstly, it adds to the body of literature on the effectiveness of call centers in enhancing accessibility and reachability of mental health services, particularly among young people. Secondly, the findings provide valuable insights for healthcare practitioners and policymakers on the importance of crisis intervention, round-the-clock availability, and resource sharing in improving mental health service delivery.

Scientific uncertainty and the challenges of applying criminal law: Lessons from China's COVID-19 response

This study addresses the complexities of applying criminal law during public health emergencies, particularly under the shadow of scientific uncertainty, and explores the challenge of balancing public health protection with individual rights. The primary aim is to dissect the application of criminal law in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in China, focusing on the impact of scientific uncertainty on legal decision-making and the efficacy of criminal law interventions in public health crises. This study utilized a doctrinal method combined with case studies, integrating theoretical frameworks on risk and uncertainty with an analysis of China's legal responses to COVID-19. It involved assessing legislative and policy documents alongside judicial decisions, focusing on their alignment with evolving scientific understanding and public health strategies. The study reveals significant hurdles, including the limitations of empirical rules in judicial judgments, the emergence of technocratic bureaucracy, and the complexities surrounding risk mitigation and legal attribution under uncertain conditions. It highlights the inadequacy of traditional criminal law mechanisms to respond dynamically to the evolving landscape of public health emergencies. To address these challenges, the study recommends the development of temporary criminal legislation tailored to public health emergencies, the adoption of risk-based criminal law approaches, and the refinement of individualized risk assessment procedures. These measures aim to provide a more flexible and effective legal framework capable of safeguarding public health while ensuring the protection of individual liberties during crises.

Patient's Experiences of a Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Informed Crisis Intervention for Psychosis Delivered in Inpatient Settings: A Qualitative Exploration.

Cognitive behaviour therapy for psychosis (CBTp) should be offered to patients receiving psychiatric inpatient care, yet very little is known about patients' perspectives on this. The aim of this study was to examine patients' experiences of a CBTp-informed intervention delivered in inpatient settings. We recruited 10 participants from the intervention arm of a randomised controlled trial examining the feasibility and acceptability of a CBTp-informed intervention for psychiatric inpatient settings. We undertook semistructured interviews examining their experiences of the intervention and analysed them using thematic analysis. The study was conducted in partnership with a coproduction group of key stakeholders (people with lived experience, family and carers,and clinicians). The intervention was found helpful by almost all participants, and all participants would recommend it to others in similar situations to themselves. The results demonstrated that participants valued the therapist's professionalism and emphasised the importance of the therapeutic relationship. Participants highlighted the importance of the therapy focusing on navigating admission and developing skills to manage the crisis experience so they could return to their normal lives. Participants described challenges to having psychological therapy in the acute crisis context including therapy interruptions and ongoing distressing experiences of psychosis. The study demonstrated the importance of prioritising the therapeutic relationship, that therapy was a valued process to navigate admission and discharge, but that some environmental and patient-level challenges were present. Further research is needed to explore inpatients' experiences of psychological interventions in this setting. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN trial registry: ISRCTN59055607.

SAFE SPACE: A SUICIDE PREVENTION HELPLINE

Abstract – The rising incidence of suicide represents a profound public health crisis that demands immediate and effective intervention. Safe Space is an innovative suicide prevention helpline designed to offer timely, compassionate, and effective support to individuals in crisis. This project aims to establish a robust, accessible helpline service leveraging both human empathy and advanced technologies to provide comprehensive care and intervention. Safe Space operates through a structured, multi-tiered approach to manage incoming calls from individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts. The process begins with call reception, where trained counselors conduct an initial assessment to evaluate the caller’s immediate risk level. Based on this assessment, callers are categorized into low, medium, or high-risk groups, guiding the subsequent intervention steps. For low-risk callers, Safe Space provides emotional support, coping strategies, and referrals to local mental health resources. Medium-risk callers receive personalized safety plans and involvement from trusted individuals in their support network. High-risk callers are provided with immediate crisis intervention, including activating emergency services if necessary. KEYWORDS – Node.js, Tailwind CSS, JavaScript, Rental Accommodation, Mess Facilities, Web-Based Platform.

Effectiveness of Community-Based Psychosocial Crisis Intervention in Elderly and Future Research Directions: Scoping Review

Effectiveness of Community-Based Psychosocial Crisis Intervention in Elderly and Future Research Directions: Scoping Review

Implicit measures of suicide vulnerability: Investigating suicide-related information-processing biases and a deficit in behavioral impulse control in a high-risk sample and healthy controls

ObjectiveRelevant implicit markers of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) have only been studied in isolation with mixed evidence. This is the first study that investigated a suicide attentional bias, a death-identity bias and a deficit in behavioral impulsivity in a high-risk sample and healthy controls. MethodWe administered the Death Implicit Association Test, the Modified Suicide Stroop Task, and a Go/No-Go Task to inpatient suicide ideators (n = 42), suicide attempters (n = 40), and community controls (n = 61). ResultsSuicide ideators and attempters showed a suicide attentional bias and a death-identity bias compared to healthy controls. Ideators and attempters did not differ in these implicit information-processing biases. Notably, only attempters were more behaviorally impulsive compared to controls; however, ideators and attempters did not significantly differ in behavioral impulsivity. Moreover, implicit scores were positively intercorrelated in the total sample. ConclusionIn line with the Cognitive Model of Suicide, ideators and attempters display suicide-related information processing biases, which can be considered as implicit cognitive markers of suicide vulnerability. Furthermore, attempters have elevated levels of behavioral impulsiveness. These results are highly relevant in the context of crisis intervention strategies and warrant further research.

Oncological Disease and Pregnancy Denial: Psychological Support and Interdisciplinary Collaboration

In the following casuistry, a denied advanced pregnancy was discovered during the diagnosis of an oncological disease. Faced with a life-threatening condition, the patient urged late termination of the pregnancy and was introduced to psychological counselling in order to find a viable and ethically justifiable solution. Strategies for crisis intervention and supportive approaches in the patient's care as well as interdisciplinary collaboration are presented and discussed.

Support for people in mourning. The role of a social worker

Death is accessible, which directly concerns every person, but is also available to their loved ones who experience mouring. Mourning is a long process that covers experience many different feelings and different issues. The aim of the article is to discuss the form of support that a bereaved person can receive, standard support from social welfare institutions as well as from non-governmental organizations. There are many different forms of bereavement support in the social welfare system that may be available, such as financial support, specialist support (legal, psychological, family), crisis intervention, participation in support groups and help from a family assistant. However, there is a lack of in-depth scientific research among bereaved people and among social workers who provide support in practice and available analyzes show some gaps in the bereavement support system. Non-governmental organizations play an important role in helping adults and children in mourning.

Contemporary issue: Starting nurse suicide prevention during pre-licensure education

BackgroundUndergraduate nursing students are at a high risk for mental health challenges, suicidal behaviors, and risk factors. High stress levels and personal and academic pressure may lead to mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder in undergraduate nursing students. Nursing students experience barriers to mental health such as lack of support, academic burnout, and stigma. AimThis paper presents the components for a comprehensive suicide prevention plan that nursing faculty can implement into pre-licensure nurse education. MethodThe acrostic “PLAN TO TALK” can be used to create a comprehensive suicide prevention plan that can be implemented by undergraduate nursing faculty. “PLAN” emphasizes creating a trusting environment for students. “TO” focuses on active involvement in suicide prevention education and awareness. “TALK” suggests strategies for faculty to implement within their curriculum. ConclusionAddressing nurse suicide during pre-licensure nurse education is essential. By implementing the “PLAN TO TALK” strategy, faculty can create a safe environment, equip faculty and students with suicide prevention resources and crisis intervention skills, and contribute to the overall mental health of students.

Exploring the Collaborative Intervention Mechanism for Psychological Crisis among College Students: Solving "Danger" and Seeking "Opportunity"

With the intensification of social competition and the acceleration of the pace of life, college students are facing increasing psychological pressure and increasingly prominent psychological problems. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the research on early warning and intervention of psychological crises among college students, integrate the forces of family, school, and society, and jointly respond to the psychological crises of college students. This study starts from the perspectives of psychological crisis prevention and intervention, and constructs a five level mechanism of primary prevention, intermediate prevention, advanced prevention, crisis intervention, and post intervention for collaborative intervention of psychological crises among college students. It further clarifies the connotation, concept, standards, and mechanism construction of collaborative work in psychological crisis intervention for college students, which is of great significance for enriching relevant research in this field.

CRISIS INTERVENTION PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS PREVENTING POST-CORONA DELINQUENCY, RESULTS OF A RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Background: A novel Crisis Intervention Program for Children and Adolescents (CIPCA) has shown a positive effect in preventing posttraumatic psychopathology among IDP children. In this study, the effect of CIPCA is examined in a randomised controlled trial. Methods: During the Corona crisis in the city of Duhok in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, 97 of the enrolled 106 children between 6 - 18 years age accepted to participate in this study (response rate 91.5%). In the presence of a parent/caregiver, every participating child was interviewed within the first month after discharge from hospital or quarantine for Corona crisis. Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was conducted to estimate child behavior problem scores before randomisation to a single one-hour CIPCA intervention or a waiting list. The CBCL interview was repeated 6 months later to estimate changes over time. Results: Delinquency behavior showed a significant difference between CIPCA and the waiting list over time, indicating a positive effect of CIPCA. Conclusions: CIPCA is effective in identifying and preventing post-Corona juvenile delinquency problems. Follow-up is planned to detect any psychopathological development.

Effectiveness of a peer-supported crisis intervention to reduce the proportion of compulsory admissions in acute psychiatric crisis interventions in an outreach and outpatient setting: study protocol for an exploratory cluster randomised trial combined with qualitative methods

IntroductionCompulsory admissions are associated with feelings of fear, humiliation and powerlessness. The number of compulsory admissions in Germany and other high-income countries has increased in recent years. Peer support has...

Early action in the asylum support sector: a scoping review

People seeking asylum often have a range of complex social, emotional and economic needs that may be exacerbated by the hostile reception that they often receive. These needs and the stress of navigating asylum systems leave asylum seekers vulnerable to crisis, with refused asylum seekers particularly vulnerable. Even after receiving settled status of some form, barriers to accessing employment or housing and other services remain, as do the impacts of trauma, abuse, and loss sustained in the country of origin, during flight, or during the wait to receive settled status, again leaving refugees vulnerable to crisis. Early action can both have benefits for the individual asylum seeker and reduce the need for costly crisis interventions. This scoping review explores best practice in early action in the voluntary sector, while identifying gaps in the evidence base.

Decolonising the Selectivity Debate in Military Humanitarian Intervention

Abstract Selectivity is often understood as global powers using military intervention in certain humanitarian crises but not in others based on perceived strategic interests at stake. Though the scholarship has acknowledged selectivity’s practice, more disputed has been its ‘problematic’ ascription. Critics have correctly identified selectivity as a problem of hypocrisy, while advocates have construed it as necessary and even pragmatic. Importantly, however, both camps have premised selectivity as a problem of ‘inaction’ towards ‘non-intervened’ crises. In contrast to this existing ‘bystander complicity’ paradigm of selectivity, this article argues that selectivity must be reinterpreted as a problem of global power ‘active complicity’ to better understand and appreciate its problematic ascription. The proposed active complicity paradigm reveals the neglected colonial and imperial underpinnings within selectivity. It destabilises and challenges the idea that global powers simply ‘stand by’ as onlookers to disassociated, faraway crises, and instead highlights their key role in enabling and perpetuating them.

State intervention and tourism business resilience: Exploring firm-level crisis responses

Business resilience and government intervention are critical in navigating crises. Guided by resilience theory and concepts of state intervention in global crises, this article examines firm-level strategies to the Covid-19 pandemic. The qualitative findings decipher adaptive resilience and business survival strategies concerning cashflow management, human resource management, management of current liabilities, asset management, and alternative business avenues. Government intervention included financial assistance, wage subsidy, loan moratorium, and other stimulus measures. Findings reveal mixed responses, highlighting the need for tailored and effective government intervention. The study extends resilience theory by integrating state intervention as an external driver of adaptive resilience, thereby providing a holistic understanding of resilience in crises. Practical implications provide policy-makers with insights on more effective crisis response strategies.

Psychological treatment of neurotraumatic injuries – crisis intervention in acute care

Patients who have suffered a neurotraumatic injury undergo severe physical and psychological trauma, which in many cases also traumatizes their relatives. Severe physical trauma and its long-term consequences have a significant impact on the lives of the people affected and their relatives. Acute health care, as well as the various periods of prolonged hospitalization, are a major physical and psychological challenge for both patients and their relatives. Patients who have suffered severe physical trauma are cared for by a multidisciplinary trauma team, which includes psychological support, too, in line with international professional guidelines. The involvement of psychologists and psychiatrists should be an integral part of acute care in the case of acute stress disorder and early-onset depression. The acute onset of psychological symptoms and the potential for long-term psychological disturbances warrant crisis intervention as close as possible in time and space to the critical event following the traumatic event. In the case of severe somatic trauma, combined therapy (pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy) can be used to relieve these symptoms and timely crisis intervention can reduce psychological symptoms and prevent the development of more serious psychopathologies (post-traumatic stress syndrome, depressive symptoms, anxiety disorders, sleep disorders), which in the long term can significantly impair quality of life and the risk of suicide. Providing regular psychological support helps the patient to adapt to the hospital environment and treatment, improves compliance, supports cooperation with physiotherapists and prepares the patient for rehabilitation. Basic psychotherapeutic care, using a variety of methods related to medical treatments and bodily processes, ranges from crisis intervention through supportive therapy to rehabilitation. It is essential that professional psychological support should be provided for the patient who has suffered a serious physical trauma as well as their relatives.

Crisis Negotiation in Suicidal Crisis Interventions

Suicidalno ponašanje vodeći je uzrok ozljeđivanja i smrtnosti svih dobnih skupina u svijetu. Policijski službenici često se susreću s osobama koje prijete oduzimanjem vlastitog života. Službenici koji su educirani, odnosno specijalizirani za takva postupanja i čije se intervencije u najvećem postotku odnose upravo na postupanja prema potencijalnim počiniteljima samoubojstva jesu policijski pregovarači. Krizno pregovaranje jedan je od najučinkovitijih policijskih alata koji se i u praksi i prema istraživanjima kontinuirano i dosljedno pokazuje kao vrlo uspješan način rješavanja različitih kriznih intervencija – uključujući i pokušaje samoubojstva. Cilj ovog rada jest predstavljanje djelovanja policijskih pregovarača u situacijama pokušaja samoubojstava. U radu su prikazane osnovne tehnike i strategija postupanja prema potencijalnim počiniteljima samoubojstva, kao i karakteristike pregovarača te upozoravajući znakovi u ponašanju počinitelja. Opisana su i dva primjera iz prakse te prijedlozi unapređenja policijskog pregovaranja u Hrvatskoj.

A unique model of care for youth in crisis: A pilot open trial.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for those ages 10-24 years in the United States, and emergency department (ED) visits due to youth self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITB) and increased substantially between 2016 and 2021. Although ED services are essential for an effective system of care, the ED setting is typically not well-suited for the comprehensive, collaborative, and therapeutic evaluation of SITB; treatment planning; and care coordination that youth in a suicidal crisis need. As a result, an urgent care model for mental health designed to provide comprehensive crisis triage and intervention services is needed within outpatient psychiatry. This pilot trial examined the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary clinical outcomes of a brief, urgent care model, the Behavioral Health Crisis Care Clinic (CCC), designed to provide comprehensive outpatient triage and intervention services aimed at reducing suicide risk for youth in crisis. Participants were 189 youth (ages 10-20; 62.4% females; 58% Caucasian) who had past-week suicidal ideation or behavior and their caregivers. The results demonstrated the CCC model exceeded feasibility and acceptability benchmarks based on the Service Satisfaction Scale (M score > 3.00). CCC care was associated with significant decreases in self-reported suicide risk based on the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality Suicide Status Form with low levels of ED usage during CCC care (7.7%) and 1-month posttreatment (11.8%). Over 88% of patients without established outpatient care at the time of referral were connected to care during CCC treatment, almost all of whom (95%) continued with ongoing mental health care 1 month after ending CCC care. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

초심상담자들의 자해 및 자살 위기 상담 수퍼비전 경험 분석 : 합의적 질적 연구법(CQR)을 중심으로

This study explores novice counselors’ experiences in receiving supervision for self-harm and suicide crisis counseling and identifies critical components of supervision to enhance crisis competency. Ten novice counselors who underwent crisis counseling supervision were interviewed about their expectations, positive outcomes, and disappointments. Using Consensual Qualitative Research(CQR), the study identified 20 categories across three areas. The counselors’ primary expectation was to receive a clear, specific crisis intervention plan and verify the appropriateness of their crisis response. Positive outcomes included support for crisis intervention challenges, validation of their efforts, medical/practical knowledge provision, and deeper client understanding. Disappointments centered on the lack of a concrete plan to apply supervision guidelines, which often did not align with clients’ unique needs and increased tension from assessment critiques. The findings inform the essential elements that crisis counseling guidance for novice practitioners should encompass.