While there is no absolute deterrent of school violence, West Virginia has taken definitive steps to try to ensure safety in our public schools. Since the launch of the Safe School initiative in 1995, training for principals, teachers and school personnel on crisis intervention and management plans have been ongoing. Students have undergone…

The PREPaRE Crisis Prevention and Intervention Curriculum is the first comprehensive curriculum developed and offered by NASP. PREPaRE's purpose is to build the capacity of schools at the local level to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from crisis events. Embedded in this primary goal is the ability to foster systems change consistent…

The purpose of this study is to analyze crisis management plans of schools that have experienced crisis situations in the past. The plans used by these schools to manage these crisis situations will be evaluated for their effectiveness or ineffectiveness in re-establishing stability to their organization. With such information, other schools may…

The authors interviewed a school counselor to determine her response to an armed hostage event in a classroom. They found that her primary interventions took place after the perpetrator had been taken into custody, through counseling students who had been in the room, contacting professionals from the school district and the local mental health…

The effectiveness of telephone crisis services/hotlines, examining proximal outcomes as measured by changes in callers' crisis state from the beginning to the end of their calls to eight centers in the U.S. and intermediate outcomes within 3 weeks of their calls, was evaluated. Between March 2003 and July 2004, 1,617 crisis callers were assessed…

This fact sheet summarizes a study that examined how schools in the U.S. Gulf Coast region perceived the mental health needs of students after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and how schools responded. According to the report, despite strong initial efforts to support the mental health needs of students displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, many…

The Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Model for crisis intervention was developed for use with emergency service personnel. Research regarding the use of the CISM Model has been conducted among civilians and high-risk occupation groups with mixed results. The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of the CISM Model for…

In this study, 228 school psychologists completed a survey regarding crisis intervention teams and plans. The majority of respondents indicated their schools had crisis plans (95.1%) and teams (83.6%). The most common team activities endorsed by participants involved providing direct assistance and services to students, staff, and the media. The…

The use of Rational Behavior Therapy (RBT) as a short-term therapeutic technique is discussed. RBT, developed by Maultsby and Ellis, is based on the premise that facts and events do not cause feelings but that what one thinks and believes about facts and events are the causal factors. (MJB)

Describes development of hospital-based crisis service for adolescents. Explains how Crisis/Assessment Unit (CAU) has met community need for responsive program for adolescents in acute psychiatric crisis. CAU development is described and critiqued. Typical case admitted for crisis services is presented. (Author)

Outlines model for crisis intervention with highly lethal suicidal people. Explores idea that crisis is a perception, including issues of lethality and perturbation, object relations, responsibility, weapon availability, and active versus passive response. Highlights specific problems with transference and countertransference. Suggests that there…

In Jungian terminology, a crisis occurs when one's persona-based personality structure collapses and ego is displaced as the center of the psyche. Subsequent confusion is necessary for establishment of self as new center of personality. Religiously speaking, confrontation of ego with self is experienced as a power or force beyond the control of…

Offers a reflection on the shootings at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, on April 20, 1999. Describes how neighboring Chatfield High School prepared for and welcomed the students and staff of Columbine to their school, showing cooperation, professionalism, and heart in the face of tragedy. (SR)

Discusses crisis intervention in terms of its potential for psychiatric practice. Focuses on a model of primary prevention of psychiatric problems. (DP)

Reviews the 1970s using "Suicide Prevention in the 70s" as a guide. The 21 goals put forward are reviewed in light of subsequent progress in the field. Presented as the presidential address at the 11th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Suicidology, April, 1978, New Orleans. (Author)