Which intervention is appropriate during a crisis?

Which intervention is appropriate during a crisis?

• A. Promote safety and assess for suicidal or homicidal ideation
• B. Increase anxiety by exposing triggers
• C. Isolate the patient
• D. Ignore coping skills

Answer: (A)

In a crisis, safety comes first. The best intervention is to promote safety and assess for suicidal or homicidal ideation by speaking in a calm, nonjudgmental way and asking direct questions about thoughts of self-harm or harming others, any plan, means, and timing. This risk assessment determines the immediate steps needed, such as removing dangerous objects, ensuring supervision, and creating a safety plan with the person and any available supports. Beyond assessing risk, support the person’s coping efforts and use brief de-escalation strategies—deep breathing, grounding techniques, and simple, practical distractions—to reduce acute arousal and help regain control. It’s also important to mobilize appropriate help and involve trusted others as indicated, while maintaining the person’s safety. Increasing exposure to triggers, isolating the patient, or ignoring coping skills would not address the urgent need for safety and could worsen the crisis.

In a crisis, safety comes first. The best intervention is to promote safety and assess for suicidal or homicidal ideation by speaking in a calm, nonjudgmental way and asking direct questions about thoughts of self-harm or harming others, any plan, means, and timing. This risk assessment determines the immediate steps needed, such as removing dangerous objects, ensuring supervision, and creating a safety plan with the person and any available supports.

Beyond assessing risk, support the person’s coping efforts and use brief de-escalation strategies—deep breathing, grounding techniques, and simple, practical distractions—to reduce acute arousal and help regain control. It’s also important to mobilize appropriate help and involve trusted others as indicated, while maintaining the person’s safety.

Increasing exposure to triggers, isolating the patient, or ignoring coping skills would not address the urgent need for safety and could worsen the crisis.