BENCHMARK CRISIS INTERVENTION PLAN 1
Benchmark Crisis Intervention Plan
Amber Collingwood
Liberty University
Author Note
Amber Collingwood
I have no known conflict of interest to disclose
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to
Amber Collingwood: email [email protected]
BENCHMARK CRISIS INTERVENTION PLAN 2
Benchmark Crisis Intervention Plan
Defining Crisis
The term crisis means something different to each person; the definition given by Dr.
Jeanne Brooks is “an event that presents a real or perceived threat to life or security” (Brooks, J,
2017). In a crisis, individuals have an emotional or physical reaction to something or someone
who is perceived to cause harm or danger to their life. Once the person has perceived that they
are in danger, the body sends the brain into crisis mode. Crisis looks different for everyone;
however, most people go through the fight, flight, or freeze modes, which give the person the
sense of urgency to react. During this state of crisis, the person can no longer stop and think
rationally or use reasoning; their main objective is to protect themselves.
Neurobiology of Crisis
The part of the body that responds to the crisis is the brain, specifically the limbic system.
During a crisis, the limbic system regulates stress responses and works with the endocrine and
autonomic nervous system. Signals are sent out to other parts of the body that there is a
perceived feeling of danger, and each part responds according. The heart rate speeds up, pituitary
glands start releasing adrenaline, dopamine, and cortisol, which prepares the person to fight,
flight, or freeze. During the flight phase, the mind senses danger and sends signals to the rest of
the body to run, get out of the danger zone as quickly as possible. During the fight phase, the
mind senses danger and tells the body that it needs to protect itself, and the individual gets ready
to fight. In the freezing phase, the mind senses danger and is flooded with hormones, and the
only choice is to freeze up. All three are acceptable options when facing danger. Brooks (2017)
states that everyone perceives things differently, and what one person feels puts them in danger,
a different person may find it normal or not concerning.
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Risk Factors
Risk factors for crisis can come in many different ways. The person experiencing the
crisis may be a minority class and not come from a place where mental health is talked about or
where treatment is available. Some individuals who suffer mental health crises are not able to
manage their medications correctly and go without them for periods. Homeless individuals are at
great risk of crisis, with no one looking in on them and a lack of support, they may go
undiagnosed and untreated. The lack of health coverage is a big risk factor for someone who is
suffering a mental health crisis.
Signs of Crisis
In some cases, the individual will experience extreme mood swings and/or emotional
outbursts. They can become distant from family or friends, and they may stop doing things that
they once enjoyed. It may be harder to get out of bed for days on end, and they may forget to eat
and take a shower. There may be an increase in drug or alcohol use, and they may have a hard
time sleeping or waking up. Crisis may lead to poor grooming habits and neglect of
responsibilities such as going to work, paying bills, and isolation. In extreme cases, the
individual experiencing the crisis may express thoughts or plans on self-harm or suicide (NIMH,
2022).
Long-term Neurological Effects of Untreated Crisis
Left untreated, prolonged exposure to stress and mental health crises can lead to
significant neurological impairment. The portions of the brain that are tasked with memory,
learning, emotional regulation and decision making, and other cognitive deficits. Because of
these key brain functions being altered, it can lead to dementia, altered brain activity, and mood
BENCHMARK CRISIS INTERVENTION PLAN 4
disorders. Anytime something has an effect on the brain, it ups the likelihood of permanent
neurological and cognitive impairments (Bremner, J, & Pearce, B, 2016).
Community Crisis Event
Dirt track racing legend Scott Bloomquist was at his home in Mooresboro, Tennessee,
flying his plane when it crashed into a barn on his property. It was later learned that Scott had
called a friend before the plane crash and told him that he was diagnosed with a heart condition
that is known as the “widow maker”. He told his friend that he did not want to die in a hospital,
and he wanted to go out on his terms. And that he was going to fly his plane into the barn on his
property. After an investigation by the FAA, it was determined that the plane accident was
intentional, and it was ruled a suicide (WTHR News, 2024). Bloomquist was suffering from
several medical injuries, including hip and leg injuries from a motorcycle crash in 2019. He was
scheduled to have back surgery but was diagnosed with prostate cancer just before the surgery
(Markel, C, 2025). The family made one statement after his passing, asking for the fans and
media to give them their privacy.
I found this to be a crisis because being diagnosed with cancer can be a crisis for some
people. When you hear about cancer the first thing that goes through my mind is oh now how
long do I have to live, and it sends a panic through you and some people just sit there dazed
(freezing), some people start looking for every way possible to cure themselves going so far as
holistic remedies (fight). And some people decide that they don’t want to do anything except die
(flight).
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Treatment Plan
Problem 1 (mental): Sally is experiencing episodes of depression after the death/suicide of her
husband.
Goal 1: Sally will explore different coping skills to help reduce the number of depressive
episodes experienced.
Objective 1: Sally will begin using her coping skills by the end of the first session.
Intervention 1: The Counselor will help Sally go through different coming methods and
help her find two that will work for Sally.
Problem 2 (physical): Sally is showing signs of depression as she is not interested in her normal
activities, and she is having a hard time leaving her house.
Goal 1: Being out of the house, around people, can help lessen the physical symptoms.
Objective 1: Sally will go on one outing two times a week.
Intervention 1: The counselor will help Sally use CBT to modify the negative thoughts
that Sally has that may be contributing to her depression.
Problem 3 (emotional): Sally is experiencing uncontrollable crying.
Goal 1: To reduce the amount of uncontrollable emotional outbursts.
Objective 1: The Client will use her memories to give her comfort and remember her
husband in the happy times.
Intervention 1: The counselor will refer Sally to a support group in her area for family
members whose loved one committed suicide.
Problem 4 (social): Sally has been canceling the plans she has made with friends.
Goal 1: The client will keep at least one commitment she has by the end of week 2.
Objective 1: Client will call her sister and make a plan to go to lunch or dinner.
BENCHMARK CRISIS INTERVENTION PLAN 6
Intervention 1: The counselor will use evidence-based interventions by helping the client
find a way to make a story of her loss and be a testimony, and help others.
Problem 5 (spiritual): Sally is having a hard time believing in God.
Goal 1. To allow Sally to realize that things happen in life that are out of our control, but God
has it all planned out.
Objective 1: Sally will speak with the pastor at her church about her feelings and her
struggle.
Intervention 1: The counselor will use Spiritually Integrated Cognitive Behavior Therapy to
help answer the questions the client has about why God would allow her husband to get cancer
and take his own life.
BENCHMARK CRISIS INTERVENTION PLAN 7
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Recognizing warning signs of mental illness.
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/warning-signs-of-mental-illness
Bremner, J. D., & Pearce, B. D. (2016). Stress, the brain, and trauma spectrum
disorders. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 7(1), 31103.
https://doi.org/10.3402/ejpt.v7.31103
National Institute of Mental Health. (2022). Suicide prevention: Risk factors and warning
signs. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention
World Health Organization. (2021). Mental health and COVID-19: Early evidence of the
pandemic’s impact. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-2019-nCoV-Sci_Brief-
Mental_health-2022.1
WTHR. (2024, October 12). Dirt track legend dies in a plane crash. [TV broadcast].
NBC.
