1.
Provide
both an objective (from a source e.g. dictionary, textbook) and subjective
definition (in your own words) for the following terms: "crisis" and
"precipitating event." (minimum 50 words each, excluding the
objective definitions)
Crisis:
a difficult or dangerous situation that needs serious attention (Merriam-Webster.com) . A crisis is any sort of challenging event that
causes an intense emotional or mental reaction for a person or group of people
who are involved with the event. These occurrences can vary greatly in both
cause and reaction, as does the severity, but they all create situations that
need to be addressed and resolved in some way.
Precipitating event: a perceived loss or traumatic experience that
produces intense anxiety and dependence on problem-solving skills (Crisis Center of Birmingham) . Essentially, a precipitating event is the
perceived cause of a problematic situation for a person. “If there is no resolution and the tension
builds to a peak, then a precipitating factor may touch off the crisis” (Kennedy and Charles 389) . This issue may be a single event or it can be
a combination of multiple events that have built up to a breaking point for
someone. The precipitating event is not
something that is always easy to determine, especially if it is a situation or
circumstance that has developed over a longer period of time.
2.
Describe
at least three different categories of emergency situations and provide a clear
example of each. Please ensure you include a source citation. (minimum 50 words
each).
There are three
primary types of emergency situations that can lead to a crisis in the lives of
people. These three categories are:
intrapersonal, somatic complaints, and interpersonal (Kennedy and Charles 392) . Each of these types of emergency situations
has unique factors that can lead to issues for some people.
a.
Intrapersonal
– Intrapersonal emergency situations involve crises that are developed based
upon internal issues for that person.
The most obvious example of this type of emergency situation would be
severe depression or anxiety. This type of crisis may be caused by the loss
of a loved one, loss of a job, or various other situations that can cause
emotional reactions within a person.
b.
Somatic
Complaints – Somatic complaints are physical symptoms perceived by persons that
seem to have no medical cause. These
types of situations are physical manifestations of depression or anxiety.
Somatic complaints can appear as anything from headaches and stomach pain to
conversion disorder which causes hearing or vision loss. It can also manifest as hypochondria, which
is a disease in which a person who frequently believes they have a serious
illness when there is nothing physically wrong with them.
c.
Interpersonal
– Interpersonal emergency situations are situations where there are
“significant outside players” (Kennedy and Charles 392) that cause a
person anxiety. People outside of the
victim cause this anxiety, frequently because the effected person is concerned
with the actions and behaviors of the other person or people. This is seen most commonly in situations
where someone is abused or bullied such as a victim of spousal abuse.
3.
Describe
at least five possible events or situations that may cause an individual to
experience a crisis in his or her life. (minimum 100 words).
There seems to be
a nearly infinite number of situations and events that can cause someone to
experience a crisis in their life but here are a few examples of possible triggers:
a.
The loss
of a loved one (Caruso, Suicide Causes) . Everyone deals with grief differently, but
for some people the loss of a loved one can cause significant anxiety and
stress. They may have trouble accepting
that the person is gone and may not be able to adapt to life where their loved
one is no longer around.
b.
The loss
of a home (Caruso, Suicide Causes) . Home is a place where people are supposed to
feel safe so if someone loses their house, either through natural disaster such
as a tornado or fire, or through a financial loss such as foreclosure, it can
be very traumatic.
c.
The loss
of financial stability (Caruso, Suicide Causes) . We live in a society where finances are very
important and stressful in every adult life.
When someone loses their job this can lead to them experiencing other
issues and can definitely lead to a crisis.
d.
Personal
identification issues (Illinois Department of Public Health) . As humans we are typically our own worst
critics. Someone who is having issues with
their gender or sexuality may face feelings of discomfort, depression, and
self-doubt. These feelings may cause
other issues for them, including a crisis of identity.
e.
Situations
of abuse (Caruso, Suicide Causes) . Someone who is experiencing any sort of
abuse, including bullying, sexual harassment, or spousal abuse may find himself
or herself in a situation where they no longer know how to cope with the
problem. This can also lead to a crisis
where they feel helpless and lost without guidance on how to remedy the
situation.
4.
Discuss
how an individual's ability to appropriately cope and/or problem solve may be
affected by crisis and explain the process you would use to assist this
individual. (100 words)
When a person
experiences a crisis they often feel lost and confused. Frequently their view of the world around
them changes and they no longer understand how to properly function in order to
cope with situations. This type of
confusion can definitely make it difficult for someone to resolve problems
without help and can definitely stop people from using appropriate coping
mechanisms (Kennedy and Charles 394) . In these types of situations people are often
faced with difficult decisions to make, which can lead to a deeper feeling of
bewilderment and make it even more difficult to cope with a crisis.
In these types of
circumstances it is important to understand that everyone reacts to crises
differently. One of the most important parts of intervening in a crisis is
understanding this and being able to assess the situation to see if the coping
that is happening is appropriate to the situation (Dass-Brailford 97) . You also have to keep an open mind to be able
to listen to the person and help them resolve issues they may be facing.
However, it is also important to be able to recognize when a person is not
reacting to a crisis in a way that is healthy, and to be willing to make
referrals to a professional if they need more help than you can give. It is very important to be able to know your
own limits while also providing support to the person in need.
5.
List
and discuss at least five suicide warning signs. Explain how you would respond
if you were assisting an individual exhibiting one or more of these signs.
(minimum 50 words each warning sign and minimum 100 words for response).
Just as there is a
huge difference in how people may react to a crisis, there are also many
different ways that someone may display suicide warning signs. Here are a few signs that are present in
people who contemplate or attempt suicide that I found on suicide.org:
a.
Feeling
helpless or hopeless. Everyone has
times in their life where they feel sad.
However, if someone consistently appears to feel hopeless or helpless,
or frequently appears to be sad or depressed they may be experiencing intense
feelings of depression. Untreated
depression is the number one cause for suicide (Caruso, Suicide Warning Signs) , so it is
important to recognize when someone is suffering from something more than the
normal “blues” we all experience.
b.
Changes in
personality (American Association of Suicidology) . Someone who is contemplating suicide may
often behave in ways that are not typical for them. A straight-A student may
fail multiple tests or quit studying all together. Someone who is very personable may act very
withdrawn or anti-social. They may also
experience extreme mood swings, including periods of rage and anger, that seem
to be unprovoked or an overreaction to small issues.
c.
Acting
impulsively (Melinda Smith) . Someone who is thinking about suicide may also
begin to act impulsively and behave recklessly without considering long-term
consequences of their actions. These behaviors may include the abuse of drugs
and alcohol as well as other irresponsible habits. This type of warning sign
may be harder to see in someone who is naturally a thrill seeker, but may be
much more obvious in someone who usually plays by the rules.
d.
Changes in
diet or sleep (Caruso, Suicide Warning Signs) . Depression frequently effects both diet and
sleep habits of people who suffer from it.
This is frequently true in people who go untreated for a long period of
time. Both of these changes can occur in
either excess or deficiency. Someone may
begin eating too much, or they may starve themselves. The same extremes can be seen with sleep. They may sleep much more than needed, or they
may suffer from insomnia where they go without sleep frequently.
e.
Losing
interest in activities (Caruso, Suicide Warning Signs) . Someone who has been passionate about activities
and suddenly seems to lose interest in those things may be suffering from
depression or contemplating suicide. They made decide to no longer participate in
something they have been actively involved with for a long time. They may also give away their favorite
possessions to people.
Responding to
people who are experiencing these types of warning signs can be very
tricky. You want to be able to comfort
the person and make them know they are cared for, but you also want to make
sure that they get the help they need. The first thing you need to do is make
an assessment as to how serious the person is contemplating suicide. If I felt that the person was contemplating
suicide as a serious option I would definitely call 911 to get emergency help
for the person. However, as the severity
of things decline, so should the responses.
If someone is depressed, recommending that they seek help while also
offering to be someone who is there to talk to them and listen to them could be
helpful. Giving them tools such as
suicide hotlines and organizations that may help them address their personal
problems. It is also important to
understand my own limits and to know where I need to draw boundaries and
understand when professional help is necessary.
6.
Choose
four of the seven common misconceptions about suicide from the list below and
discuss why each is a misconception. (minimum 50 words each)
a.
People
who talk about suicide won't really do it.
Many people who
attempt or commit suicide have talked about it with someone before they act.
Talking about suicide is a call for help and should always be approached
seriously. Often they are in pain and
reaching out for help because they don’t know how else to cope (helpguide.org) .
Don’t be afraid to talk to someone about how they are feeling and guide
them to get help.
b.
Anyone
who tries to kill himself/herself must be crazy.
People who attempt
suicide are not just crazy. They may
suffer from mental illness, or they simply may be feeling overwhelmed in their
life and see no other way out. Someone who attempts suicide may be dealing with
grief, depression, despair, or any other sort of emotional pain but this does
not necessarily mean they are suffering from mental illness (helpguide.org) .
c.
People
who commit suicide always leave notes.
Few
people commit suicide without first letting someone else know how they feel. However, statistics show that discussing the
act beforehand does not mean that they will leave a note if they decide to attempt
to take their own life. In fact, a study by Canadian researcher Dr. A. Leenaars
estimates that only 12 to 37% leave notes (Distress Centre Oakville) .
d.
After a
person has attempted suicide, it is unlikely he/she will try again.
80% of the people who die from
suicide have made at least one previous attempt (Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network) . This
statistic alone speaks volumes. People
who have reached a point in their life when suicide is an option are not
instantly healed if they have made the attempt and survived. They still need treatment, support, and
healing.
7.
Discuss
why an individual in crisis might seek an ADF clergy person for help and
explain whether or not you feel this is an appropriate function for ADF clergy,
why or why not? (minimum 200 words)
We live in a society where we have
been taught that clergy is a place to turn for guidance, assistance, and
confidential communication. Many modern
religions use their clergy to provide counseling and therapy for individuals
and groups. Some churches even require
counseling sessions with a member of clergy before they will perform certain
rites for their members. This standard
in our culture makes it so people often look to clergy for guidance and help
with personal issues. If someone is a
member of ADF, or lives in a place with very few Pagan clergy options, they may
choose to approach an ADF clergy member to try to help them work through their
crisis.
Approaching an ADF clergy member is
something that people may do for numerous reasons. First, ADF clergy are trained in a way that
very few other Pagan clergy will be.
They are expected to do research into not only our own spiritual path,
but also the path of many different Indo-European cultures. We are expected to have at least some
knowledge on numerous things, including magical workings, rituals, liturgy,
ethics, and divination. This gives us a
diverse set of tools in which they can draw upon to work with someone in
need.
Another reason that someone may
approach clergy from ADF is our work with re-establishing order within our
rituals. The ADF Core Order of Ritual is
based around the idea of establishing a Sacred Space in which we (re)create the
cosmos and bring chaos back into order.
This tool alone may be very useful for someone who feels that his or her
life is out of control. It gives ADF
clergy a tool that they can teach others to use in order to help balance their
own life.
I think that assisting people in
crises is something that is important for ADF clergy to do. The Pagan community does not have many clergy
options, and many of those who are legal clergy have little or no training in
how to help people in these types of situations. Being able to help people in the community in
this way is very important. However, it
is also important that clergy know their own personal limitations, as well as
the legal limitations for clergy in their area.
Reporting laws should also be reviewed and followed any time you are
dealing with allegations of abuse or illegal actions.
8.
Discuss
an example of a crisis situation to which you have responded (this may be a
crisis you have personally experienced or an experience in which you tried to
help someone else in crisis). Reflect upon your response to the crisis in your
example, and explain what you found effective, as well as how you could have
improved your response to this situation. (minimum 200 words)
Crisis is something that I am more
familiar with than I would like to admit.
I’ve found myself dealing with crisis situations throughout my life,
which gives me a vast experience to draw upon.
However, one situation that sticks out in my mind the most would be the
loss of one of my closest friends.
When I was 18 years old, I received
a phone call from my best friend to tell me that his younger brother had passed
away. The boy was only 16 years old and
had been killed unexpectedly in a car accident, so the family was
devastated. My friend and his brother
had been a part of my life since I was in elementary school, so the loss was
very hard for me. We grew up like
family, so it felt like I was losing a member of my own family. They lived 8 hours away, but I knew that I
needed to be there to help support his family and take care of the things they
couldn’t manage on their own. I showed
up and was there to comfort the family, and help make decisions that they
couldn’t yet face. I spent hours with my
best friend, sharing memories of his brother, letting him cry, and providing
comfort the best I could. I cooked meals
for the family, cleaned up messes left by other visitors, and helped pick
photos for the funeral slide show. After
the funeral, I returned home but I continued to check in with the family, talk
to them, and visit them as much as possible so they knew I was always
there.
Overall, I think my approach was
decent and appreciated, especially considering that I was only 18 years old
myself. The family was extremely
grateful for my help and I know it meant a lot to have a group of people to
help, love, and support them during their crisis. However, I also know that I was grieving as
well at the time, so I’m sure there were times where my pain made me less than
productive in the situation. This crisis
was one that was near to my heart, so I don’t think my grief was inappropriate,
but I do think that handling a situation without that grief involved would make
it easier for both sides.
9.
Discuss
how the skills required of ADF clergy in ritual, especially those which involve
mitigating chaos and generating order, might relate to those necessary for
appropriately responding to an emergency situation (minimum 100 words).
Before I started
this course I had never really considered how mitigating chaos could be
effective for emergency response, but it absolutely makes sense. Creating order
in ritual is something that we do by establishing a Sacred Center and
connecting the cosmos. Within ADF, the establishment and reinforcement of order
is one of the main functions of a ritual (Fickett-Wilbar) . We strive to find balance and
align ourselves within the world during ritual.
Individual crises are typically caused by chaotic or unexpected events
in someone’s life. By learning how to
effectively find balance in the chaos and bring order to situations that may
otherwise seem haphazard could be a useful tool in working with someone who is
experiencing a crisis. It may also be
helpful to the person responding because they then have the knowledge to
balance himself or herself in the midst of the chaos the other person is
experiencing so they don’t also become overwhelmed by the situation.
10.
Compile
and submit a list of mainstream resources providing crisis services available
in your locality. Additionally, explore your locality for a hotline number to
access emergency services and discuss the results of your search. (Please
provide the following information for each resource listed a) name of resource
b) contact information c) how to make a referral d) hours of operation e)
specific service[s] provided by the resource). (no minimum word count)
Researching
resources for these different types of crisis has definitely made me grateful
for the Internet. There are numerous
options for both local and online resources, but finding legitimate local
organizations does take some time.
However, I was pleasantly surprised at how many 24-hour hotlines we have
available in Omaha. My own concern is
that there isn’t any sort of “generic” hotline and each one is typically
dedicated to a specific need. The list
below is definitely not all of the options available, but does cover some of
the most popular options in my area.
a.
Suicidal
Thoughts
Boys Town Hotline
(800)448-3000
24 Hours/Day – 7 Days/Week – 365
Days/Year
Lasting Hope Recovery Center
(402)717-HOPE
24 Hours/Day – 7 Days/Week – 365 Days/Year
·
Care for patients experiencing mental illness
and multi-occurring substance abuse disorders.
·
Law enforcement has a psychiatric
"home-base" for people experiencing a crisis because of their mental
illness.
·
Family support.
·
Provides treatment to adults with emergency
psychiatric concerns and follow-up care
Referral Process: Call the Assessment Center at (402) 717-HOPE
(4673) or 1-800-523-7294.
b.
Mental
Illness
Alegent Creighton Mental Health
Services
(402)717-HOPE
Inpatient & Outpatient Services
with misc. hours
·
Child, Adolescent, Adult, and Senior Care
·
Inpatient Services
·
Outpatient Clinics
·
Partial Hospitalization
·
Home Care
Referral Process: Call the Assessment Center at (402) 717-HOPE
(4673) or 1-800-523-7294.
Douglas
County Community Mental Health Center
(402)444-7449
Monday through Friday, 8am-5pm
·
Adult Care
·
Inpatient Services
·
Intensive Care Unit
·
Outpatient Program
·
Day Treatment Program
·
Mental Health Diversion Program
·
Referral Process: Call 402-444-7930 to speak to someone who
will help you to determine if you meet criteria and will assist you in
scheduling an appointment.
c.
Substance
Abuse (addiction)
Addiction
& Recovery Services
(402)510-1754
Hours: By Appointment
·
Substance Abuse Counseling & Addiction
Therapy
·
Alcohol/Drug Evaluations
·
Family Consults & Intervention Planning
·
Co-Dependency Treatment
Referral Process: Call (402)510-1754 to schedule an
appointment.
Heartland
Family Services
(402) 553-3000
Hours: Vary by location
·
Outpatient intensive substance abuse treatment
·
Community Substance Abuse Prevention Coalitions
·
Substance abuse & gambling evaluations
·
Problem Gambling Treatment
o
24-Hour Crisis Line: (866)3225-1407
·
Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment
o
Individual & Family Therapy
o
Relapse Prevention Groups
o
Adolescent Education Group
o
Support Groups
·
Adult Substance Abuse Treatment
o
Outpatient Treatment
o
Residential Substance Abuse Treatment
o
Transition skills for incarcerated women.
Referral Process: Call (402)552-7400 to schedule an appointment
d.
Financial
Issues
Omaha
Housing Authority – Family Self Sufficiency
(402)218-4059
Hours: 8am-5pm
·
Help Gain Employment
·
Skill Training
·
Housing Assistance
·
Case management & Advocacy
Referral Process: Complete the Pre-Application Process form
online to see if you qualify.
e.
Homelessness
(lack of shelter, food, clothing, other basic needs)
Siena/Francis
House
(402)341-1821
Hours: 24 Hours/Day – 7 Days/Week
– 365 Days/Year
·
Women & Children’s Shelter
·
Men’s Shelter
·
Homeless Veteran Assistance
·
Food & Clothing
·
Employment Training & Education
·
Health Care Clinic
·
Supportive Apartments
Referral Process: Walk-Ins welcome. Shelter check-in after 4:30pm.
Stephen
Center
(402) 731-0238
Hours: 24 Hours/Day – 7 Days/Week
– 365 Days/Year
·
Emergency Shelters
·
Transitional Living
·
Thrift Store
·
Substance Abuse Treatment Center
Referral Process: Walk-Ins welcome. Shelter check-in after 4pm.
Food
Bank for the Heartland
(402)331-1213
Hours: 7:30am to 4:30pm. Mobile Pantry hours vary
·
Kids Café
·
Backpack Program
·
Mobile Pantry
·
SNAP
Referral Process: Call 211 to contact the United Way for
information
f.
Suspected
Abuse of the Individual's Child(ren)
NE
Dept. of Health & Human Services –
Division
of Children & Family Services
Abuse & Neglect Hotline: (800)652-1999
Hours: 24 Hours/Day
·
Ensure abused, neglected, dependent or
delinquent populations are:
o
Safe from harm
o
In a permanent, healthy environment
o
With a stable family
o
Helped to heal from harmful events
·
Juvenile delinquent services
·
Truancy management
Referral Process: Call the
Abuse & Neglect Hotline (800)652-1999.
For emergency assistance call 911.
g.
Criminal
Victimization (victims of theft, sexual assault, etc.)
For emergencies,
call 911
Friendship
Home
(402)437-9302
Hours: Shelter 24/7, Office 8am
to 5pm
·
Emergency Hotline 24/7
·
Pre-Shelter Services such as counseling
·
Confidential Shelter offering food, clothing,
and shelter
·
Case management & advocacy
·
Support Groups
·
Economic Self Sufficiency
·
Children Services
·
Education & Outreach
Referral Process: Call the hotline to access shelter
information
Douglas
County – Victim Assistance Division
(402)444-4597
Hours: VINE Services 24/7, Office
Hours 8am-5pm
·
Supportive Listening
·
Victim Compensation
·
Cell Phone Program
·
Case Status Information
·
Victim Assistance with Court Cases
·
Agency Referral
·
Victim Information & Notification Everyday
Referral Process: Email or call the department for services
h.
Grief
(resulting from death, terminal illness, divorce or other loss)
Alegent
Bereavement Support
(402)898-8000
Hours: Hours vary by service
·
Grief Support
·
Weekly meetings
·
Monthly lunch
Referral Process: Call (402)898-8000 and request a bereavement
counselor
Parents
of Suicide Together (POST)
(402) 556-7307
Hours: Meetings Tuesday @ 7pm,
Saturdays @12:30pm
·
Individual Counseling
·
Support Groups
·
Educational Resources
Referral Process: Call (402)556-7307 for information
Centering Corporation
(402) 556-7307
Hours: 9am to 4pm
·
Quarterly magazine
·
Education & resources for bereaved
·
Workshops
·
Cards, books, and DVDs
Referral Process: Call (402)556-7307 for information
Bibliography
American
Association of Suicidology. Know the Warning Signs of Suicide. 2014.
September 2014 <http://www.suicidology.org/resources/warning-signs>.
Caruso, Kevin. Suicide Causes. September 2014
<http://www.suicide.org/suicide-causes.html>.
—. Suicide Warning Signs. August 2014 <http://www.suicide.org/suicide-warning-signs.html>.
Crisis Center of Birmingham. What is Crisis? 5
January 2012. August 2014
<http://www.crisiscenterbham.com/images/pdfs/3-Crisis_Intervention.pdf>.
Dass-Brailford, Priscilla. A Practical Approach to Trauma.
Sage Publications, 2007.
Distress Centre Oakville. Suicide Myths & Facts.
2014. 2014
<http://www.distresscentreoakville.com/suicide-myths-facts.php>.
Fickett-Wilbar, David. Cosmos, Chaos, and the ADF Priest.
September 2014 <https://www.adf.org/articles/cosmology/cosmos-and-chaos.html>.
helpguide.org. Suicide Prevention. August 2014
<http://www.helpguide.org/mental/suicide_prevention.htm>.
Illinois Department of Public Health. Sexual
Orientation, Gender Identity, and Youth Suicide. March 2011. September
2014
<http://www.idph.state.il.us/about/chronic/Suicide_Sexual_Orientation_in_Youth.pdf>.
Kennedy, Eugene and Sara C. Charles. On Becoming a
Counselor. The Crossroad Publishing Company, 2001.
Melinda Smith, M.A., Jeanne Segal, Ph.D., and Lawrence Robinson.
Suicide Prevention. July 2014.
<http://www.helpguide.org/mental/suicide_prevention.htm>.
Merriam-Webster.com. "Crisis". August 2014
<http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crisis>.
Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network. tspn.org.
2013. August 2014 <http://tspn.org/myths-about-suicide>.
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