To handle a death in the school community wisely and sensitively, school boards need to develop a death response policy. A policy developed by a diverse committee will be sensitive to the needs of the entire school community. Offers seven points to consider in drafting a policy. (MLF)

Analyzes school boards' response, in terms of crisis decision making, to a situation in which a superintendent was charged and later convicted of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old female student. Cites "Crucial Decisions," by Irving Janis, and offers recommendations to help board members be more effective decision makers. Presents an outline of…

Effective prevention and intervention requires a variety of complementary methods. But arbitrary mixing of methods can lead to confusion and inconsistency. Life Space Crisis Intervention uses strategies drawn from several theories of re-education that meet the twin standards of scientific validity and positive values. LSCI offers a roadmap for…

Elements and components of crisis situations are identified. Strategies and sequences of crisis intervention are described. Cultural implications of crisis intervention are discussed.

This paper presents and evaluates a comprehensive client management system for suicide and crisis intervention services. The management system consists of five service designations: self-injury, crisis, active support, general support, and single contact. These designations determine the extent and type of activity engaged in, as well as the scope…

Rape crisis counseling at the New Orleans Y.W.C.A. is provided on a 24 hour basis by a staff of two professionals and 30 volunteers who counsel persons calling the rape crisis line. The caller's confidentiality is strictly maintained. In approximately 36% of the calls which involve crimes not reported to the police, callers are encouraged but…

Information to help teachers recognize the potential for suicide among hearing impaired and other students is presented. The "Suicide Decision Tree" emphasizes six important content areas (verbal signs, behavioral signs, stressors, past history, suicide plan, and resources) throughout a three-part process of monitoring, investigating, and…

Development of a college mental health service concerned with suicide intervention is described. Primary prevention programs emphasized ties with other agencies to facilitate referrals while secondary prevention programs encouraged psychotherapy and family involvement. (Author/DF)

A pilot program, Chemical Addictions Prevention in Schools (CAPS), is meeting with success at a Pennsylvania high school. A counselor who is not a member of the school's regular teaching or counseling staff operates an inschool counseling center utilizing peer counseling, support groups, and crisis prevention and intervention. (Author/MLF)

Style of behavior, or the manner in which meaning is transmitted, is a cultural element. Children learn cultural communication systems by participating in them. (JD)

Describes Critical Incident Stress Debriefing process (CISD) as model designed to mitigate impact of life-threatening crises on health care workers, to facilitate their return to routine functioning, and to prevent pathological responses to trauma that is inherent aspect of their profession. Examines development of CISD and explores its…

Describes Crisis Support Plan developed by one county school system to give both psychological and physical support to a school facing a crisis such as student death. Gives background of Crisis Support Plan and uses case study to explain various aspects of crisis intervention teaming (the crisis, meeting, the day of the intervention). (NB)

Details events of six days during Salmonella outbreak at camp in North Carolina. Explains how camp handled 280 sick campers and staff, well campers, news media, and parents. Based on an epidemiologic survey of food eaten, it was suspected that the culprit of the outbreak was a meat item. Offers suggestions for crisis management in the camp…

The article describes the implementation of Immediate Strategic Intervention, a counseling strategy which utilizes trained adolescent female friends to help during the first 24 hours of an emotional crisis (e.g., potential suicide). Middle school adolescents can be taught basic psychological concepts and utilize them in supporting friends and…

Describes the services of the Appalachian Mental Health Center in Elkins, West Virginia. Services include a school for emotionally disturbed teenagers, an Adult Training Center, a preschool for developmental disabilities, a public inebriate shelter, a crisis center for teens, a small prison counseling program, and long-term counseling for drug and…