Page:What is Crisis.pdf/9

Crises & Emergencies Compared

Psychological Crises	Psychological Emergencies
A crisis is a loss of psychological equilibrium.	Many emergencies can develop from or involve a crisis.
A crisis is longer lasting in duration than an emergency and does not include the risk of danger.	An emergency is an abrupt, sudden situation in which there is an imminent risk of harm.
In crisis, normal coping responses are insufficient to resolve the situation.	Emergencies can potentially result in harm to self or others in four possible ways: Risk of suicide Risk of physical harm to another Being in a state of seriously impaired judgment in which an individual is endangered (delirium, dementia, acute psychotic episode, severe dissociation, etc.) Risk to a defenseless victim (such as a child or elder)
Secondary attempts to cope are unsuccessful and the crisis is activated.
There is a marked increase in anxiety, tension, agitation, depression or a sense of defeat.
Activities of daily living (eating, sleeping, grooming, daily habits, etc.) become impaired or are impossible to carry out.
A person can not remain in crisis permanently.
The goal of crisis intervention is brief or short term counseling designed to stabilize and restore the individual’s functioning at a normal and adaptive level as soon as possible.	The goal of emergency intervention is to remove lethality and reduce or eliminate danger.