A crisis is a very individual reaction to an event or experience. One person may be extremely affected by an event, while someone else experiencing the same event may experience little or no negative effects.
If a crisis is not dealt with in a healthy way, it can lead to longer lasting mental health issues, as well as social and physical problems.
People may experience crisis as a result of many events. These can include, but are not limited to:
- Relationship breakdown or difficulties
- Loss (of a loved one, job, home)
- Physical health issues
- Caring for another
- Violence and trauma
- Pressures from work or study
- An accident
- A natural disaster
- The onset of mental health issues
Talk in private. Give the person your undivided attention. A few minutes of listening might help the person make a decision about next steps.
Listen carefully and with sensitivity. Listen in an open-minded and nonjudgmental way.
Be honest and direct, but nonjudgmental. Ask what's troubling your friend, and share what you've observed and why it concerns you. For example: "I've noticed you've been missing class a lot lately and you aren't answering your phone or text messages like you used to. I'm worried about you."
Distress often comes from conflicting feelings or demands. Acknowledge this and paraphrase what the other person is saying. For example: "It sounds like you want to please your family, but you aren't sure that what they want for you is what you really want to do."
Make a referral. Direct and/or accompany the person to the Student Counseling Center to make an appointment.
Follow up. Let the person know you'll be checking in to see how things turned out.
Recognise your own limits
Your own safety and wellbeing are as important as that of the person in distress. Recognizing the limits of what you can and can't do to help is a crucial part of the process.
- Be genuinely concerned and supportive.
- Be honest with yourself about how much time and effort you can afford to spend helping.
- Be aware of your own needs and seek support for yourself.
- Maintain and respect healthy boundaries.
- Realize you can't control how the person is going to respond.
- Understand you can't decide for them whether or not the person wants help or wants to change.
When responding to a person in need, you don't have to be alone. When in doubt about how to handle a crisis situation, contact a responsible person with whom to share your concerns, such as a counselor, parent, coach, faculty member, police or staff person.
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