Evolution of Crisis Intervention
Crisis intervention has evolved substantially across the years. The gradual evolution over extended times has shaped how mental health intervention happens. It has led to a body of knowledge supporting new interventions.
- Specific Historical Examples
The Coconut Grove Fire of 1942 entailed a deadly nightclub fire in the US. At the time of the strategy, more than 1000 families and couples were in the club, which was twice its capacity. Four hundred ninety-two people succumbed from the fire. Investigations revealed a need for safety mechanism in crowded areas (Wright, 2014). The revelations shaped subsequent understandings regarding crisis intervention.
The US Baby Boom crisis in 1946 was another crisis marked by a sharp increase in births following World War II. The resultant high dependency had adverse economic ramifications. The fact that the government supports an unusually large population of Americans aged beyond 65 years means it must divert funds from other areas. The situation developed a general urgency to manage population growth.
Then came the haphazard implementation of the US Community Mental Health Act of 1963. The legislation was meant to offer federal funding for research facilities and community mental health centres. Unfortunately, as Parad (2015) concurs, the Act did not meet desired expectations. It brought into question the need to consider the views of all stakeholders before making interventions.
Nevertheless, the 1980s growth in managed health care was a case of an effective response. It was supposed to subdue spiralling medical costs and decrease unnecessary hospitalization, which made providers lower the cost of accessing health care. It began a movement towards a competitive and efficient health care system that became a reprieve for the millions of Americans.
Finally, the 1990s saw the rise of the private sector health care system. The US health care system increased the allocation of resources in the period based on the principles of the market place. The situation arose from a need to offer quality health care. Despite resulting in higher levels of quality health care, the approach also heightened health access inequalities.
- The Cognitive-Behavioral Concept of Responding to Crisis
Unlike behavioural involvements, crisis intervention is different. It is a highly involving onetime event that takes between 4 and 6 weeks to disappear. Researchers have outlined several models of intervening. One such model that has proved effective is the cognitive-behavioural concept for crisis intervention.
The approach employed bases on the behavioural problem-solving technique entailing the following. According to Lopes (2017), the methodology begins with defining the issue at hand before proceeding to assess prior intervention measures. Then, the patient decides the preferred outcome upon therapy completion. Both the physician and the affected then brainstorm available alternatives. The following step entails selecting options and committing to executing them. The intervention process then concludes with making follow-ups meant to ensure enhanced effectiveness.
An example entails the case of a student with suicidal tendencies. Following the sudden demise of the husband in a fatal accident, the victim in question developed severe depression that resulted in suicidal tendencies. The intervention comprises working with the client to identify the matter and assessing prior health conditions and responses where feasible. The therapist would allow sufficient time to discuss the issue openly and genuinely, agree on the limits of confidentiality, consent on the preferred outcome, emphasis the availability of help, and validate the client’s feelings. Afterwards, there will be an intervention. Finally, the counsellor will have to make close follow-ups on the matter. Nevertheless, if the client appears to be at high risk, contacting the local mental health crisis team should be a priority.
Given that the approach is based on personal relations understanding the influence and importance of multicultural awareness is critical. According to Sullivan, Harris, Collado, and Chen (2006), winning the client’s trust, confidence, and undivided commitment is paramount to establishing a complete and open conversation. The counsellor needs cultural competence or a set of corresponding attitudes, policies, and behaviours that work best in a client-counsellor relation and across cross-cultural situations.
Nevertheless, because of its nature, this intervention is best suited in situations of personal engagement. Often this involves few participants.
Conclusion
Overall, Crisis intervention has developed over time in ways that have contributed to the development of modern intervention approaches. The emergence of innovative crisis intervention mechanisms helps address crises before they become unsustainable. Nevertheless, more studies are essential to determine appropriate means of intervening on a large scale.
References
Lopes, A. S. (2017). The student national medical association cultural competency position
statement, Student National Medical Association
Parad, H. J. (2015) Preventive casework: Problems and implications, Family Service
Association of America
Sullivan, M. A., Harris, E., Collado, C., & Chen, T. (2006). Perspectives of
clinicians of colour on culturally competent crisis intervention. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 987-999.
Wright, B. (2014) The Cocoanut Grove Nightclub Fire Happened 72 Years Ago in Boston,
Boston.com. Accessed electronically on July 11, 2020, from http://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2014/11/28/the-cocoanut-grove-nightclub-fire-happened-72-years-ago-in-boston