CRISIS INTERVENTION 1
Benchmark Crisis Intervention Plan
Richard Lee
School of Behavioral Science, Liberty University
CRISIS INTERVENTION 2
Benchmark Crisis Intervention Plan
Defining Crisis
Defining Crisis
Crisis, risk assessment, and crisis intervention are words that individuals have become
accustomed to hearing in the past few years. These words are used a lot by public service
members, media, and everyday ordinary people due to the rise of violence and the horrifying
disasters that plague our Nation. The escalation of violence and natural disasters has brought to
light how unprepared cities, towns, states and the government are when it comes to a crisis and
disasters. This is why fully comprehending and understanding what a crisis is and how the
intervention process is implemented is crucial. “A crisis is an event that presents a real or
perceived threat to life or security. This event causes the individual to believe that his/her life or
security is in danger, and creates both a physical and emotional reaction that leads to a distressed
state” (Brooks, 2017, p. 9).
A Crisis can materialize quickly and presents itself unannounced for an array of reasons
and does not discriminate against settings or locations. A formation of significant characteristics
must present for something to be considered a crisis. The first significant characteristic is there
has to be an event or setting that is triggering. The second characteristic is the significance of that
event that has led to distress. Finally, as a result of the continual distress, limited or diminished
functioning occurs, as a regular coping mechanism or resources fail to provide help or assistance
(Jackson-Cherry & Erford, 2018).
The terms crisis, trauma, and stress all intermingle amongst each other during a crisis
