Psy Ex 3 Wk 6, Crisis Intervention

What is a mental health crisis?

Occurs when emotional distress overwhelms usual coping mechanisms

What does mental health crisis result in?

Impaired functioning, panic, or risky behaviors

When does a mental health crisis usually resolve?

4-6 weeks

What are the common characteristics of crisis?

(1) Experiencing a sudden event without time to prepare, (2) Perception of the event as overwhelming/life threatening, (3) A loss of or decrease in communication with significant others [sense of displacement from what's familiar], and (4) An actual or perceived loss

What are the Phases of Crisis Development?

(1) Threat activates anxiety response

(2) Anxiety continues escalating

(3) Trial-n-Error methods of resolution fail

(4) Acute crisis

What is occurring in an acute crisis?

Anxiety hits a breaking point, leading to major disorganization

How can general reorganization help?

- Continues reorganization to the resolution of the problem

- Can be a source of growth

- Full reconciliation takes time

How long would it take before another major crisis could be dealt with?

A full year

What are risk factors that can lead to a crisis?

- An accumulation of unresolved losses

- Life stressors

- Mental and physical health issues

- Excessive fatigue or pain

- Age & developmental stage

What types of crises are there?

Situational/External, Maturational/Internal, Adventitious, Crisis-Reflecting psychopathology, Psychiatric Emergencies

What's a situational/external crisis?

Sudden, unexpected external event that's disrupts normal life

What's a maturational/internal crisis?

Change to your everyday life thats due to a normal path of growth (etc retiring, body changes)

What's an adventitious crisis?

Caused by large-scale psychology trauma (9/11, mass shooting) often affecting multiple individuals or communities

What's a crisis reflecting psychopathology crisis?

An acute emotional or psychological breakdown that's triggered or influenced by pre-existing mental health conditions

What's an psychiatric emergency?

An acute disturbance that presents immediate risk of harm to a person or other; requires urgent intervention

What occurs during an assessment of a crisis intervention?

- Collection of data

- Therapeutic Relationship and techniques

- Explain anything you need to do

- Determine the precipitating event

- Determine client's perception of the event

- Determine the immediate problem

What are the nursing interventions (in order) to perform during a crisis?

1) Promote a sense of safety for the client

2) Assist with admission to an inpatient facility (for thoses w/ suicidal or homicidal thoughts)

3) Initial interventions (includes identifying current problem and directing interventions for resolutions)

What do you use, teach, and identify in a crisis?

Use strategies to decrease anxiety, relaxation techniques, coping skills

What's primary prevention for a crisis?

Teaching stress management and education of coping strategies

What's secondary prevention for a crisis?

Perform acute crisis interventions and ER, clinics, hospital, and phone hotline are in use

What's tertiary care for a crisis?

Supportive interventions during recovery for

optimal function and located as rehab centers, outpatient units, day hospitals, etc

What's the evaluation/resolution side for crisis intervention?

Positive Changes, Adaptive coping, Insight, Prevention, Future Action, Support Systems