Crisis Intervention
Thirty-one percent of rape victims develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).(1)
15.2 percent of males and 8.5 percent of females who served in the Vietnam War developed PTSD, according to the National Vietnam Veterans Re-Adjustment Study.(2)
Overview
Random House defines crisis as "a dramatic emotional or circumstantial upheaval in a person's life" and "a stage in a sequence of events at which the trend of all future events, especially for better or worse, is determined; a turning point."(3)
A wide range of human emotions and behaviors can accompany crisis, particularly when the crisis relates to victimization. People react differently to stress and crisis, particularly when the crisis relates to victimization. People react differently to stress and crisis situations based on their own skills or behaviors, abilities to cope, maturation levels, and personalities. For some, a crisis situation may be coupled with changes in behavior such as sleeplessness or over-eating. For others, a crisis may include denial, disbelief, and the inability to cope. Still others may experience physiological changes such as an increase in their heart rate, sweating, or fainting.
The importance of crisis intervention for victim of crime is paramount. The goal of crisis intervention is to help victims confront the reality of what happened, begin to deal with the crisis, and to go beyond the pain and emotional trauma toward new strength and opportunities for growth and change. Victims may include those who were the target of the victimization, as well as others affected by the crime such as parents, spouses, friends, or witnesses. The challenge for crisis intervention programs is to provide effective crisis support and assistance as soon as possible following victimization, and to make available resources and services to meet the needs of victims by providing direct assistance or referrals to other agencies.
VICTIMS SHOULD NOT WAIT HOURS OR DAYS TO SEE A CRISIS INTERVENTION COUNSELOR TO ASSIST IN THEIR TIME OF NEED.
What is Crisis Intervention?
Crisis intervention for victims of crime may vary depending on the needs of the victim and the type of victimization. However, there are some critical elements to crisis intervention services that are necessary for all victim, including:
- Psychological first aid;
- Survivor needs assessment and empathetic support; and
- Recovery intervention.(4)
The Three Phases of Crisis Intervention
Immediate crisis intervention or "psychological first aid" involves establishing a rapport with the victim, gathering information for short-term assessment and service delivery, and averting a potential state of crisis. Many victims may be resistant to crisis intervention due to fear or anxiety. Resistance is one form of the victim's response to a crisis situation. The immediacy of the response is critical to ensure the safety of the victim and his or her family. Time may be extremely important because of impending danger to the victim or the family. Victims should not wait hours or days to see a crisis intervention counselor to assist in their time of need.
Immediate crisis intervention also includes caring for the medical, physical, mental health and personal needs of the victim, and providing information to the victim about local resources or services. Referrals should be made to other agencies for other services, such as shelter facilities, home security or for crime victim compensation.
The second phase of crisis intervention involves an assessment of needs to determine the services and resources required by the victim in order to provide emotional support to the victim. The purpose of this phase is to determine how the crisis affects the victim's life so that a plan for recovery can be developed, allowing the victim to begin moving towards the future.
The third phase--recovery intervention--helps victims re-stabilize their lives and become healthy again. It also involves helping the victim prevent further victimization from the criminal justice system or other agencies the victim may come into contact with in the aftermath of victimization. This is the initial period of recovery for the victim, and may require considerable time, effort and resources before the victim resolves long-term issues associated with the victimization.(5)
"Many victims may be resistant to crisis intervention due to fear or anxiety. Resistance is one form of the victim's response to a crisis situation. The immediacy of the response is critical to ensure the safety of the victim and his or her family."
Victim service providers also focus on reducing risk factors for victims, maximizing their social support systems, maximizing and improving their coping skills, and helping victims obtain greater self-esteem and self worth. This includes working with other agencies to reduce added trauma imposed on victims who go through the complex and often frustrating criminal justice system.
Crisis intervention is an important element of the healing process for victims. Crisis intervention should not be assigned to one specific agency or organization, but should be an important element of each agency or organization that deals with victims of crime. This includes victim advocacy organizations (such as hospitals or schools), social services agencies, law enforcement, and corrections. Many law enforcement agencies have developed crisis intervention teams staffed by professional social workers to respond to crisis they face as a result of emergency calls. To be effective, crisis intervention must be provided in an orderly, structured, humanistic manner and must focus on the individuality of the victim and his or her needs.
Bibliography
Greengard, Samuel. "Crime After Crime." Barrister Magazine (1988), 15 (4): 23-27
Hammer, Mark B. "Trauma and the Vietnam War Generation: Report of Finding from the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study," book review. Journal Traumatic Stress (1992), 5(2): 321-322
National Center for Victims of Crime and Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center. "Rape in America: A report to the Nation." Arlington, VA, April 23, 1992.
Random House Dictionary of the English Language, Second Edition, unabridged. New York: Random House, Inc. 1987.
Roberts, Albert R. Helping Crime Victims: Research, Policy, and Practice. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications, 1990.
For Additional Information, Please Contact:
Your local District Attorney's Office, crisis center, hospital or mental health facility.
End Notes
1. National Center for Victims of Crime and Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, 1992.
2. Hanner, 1992.
3. Random House, 1987.
4. Roberts, 1990.
5. ibid.
INFOLINK©: A Program of the National Center for Victims of Crime.
All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1997 by the National Center for Victims of Crime. This information may be freely distributed, provided that it is distributed in its entirety and includes this copyright notice.
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