Here's how I see crisis intervention in the context of a behavioral health crisis response or crisis management system:

The crisis service array ranges from a warm line to inpatient psychiatric care. The system has an inherent crisis prevention and diversion capability. It should be able to keep situations from becoming crises, build support, and employ these supports in crisis prevention.

A crisis service has four dimensions:

1. crisis prevention

2. crisis diversion

3. crisis intervention

4. crisis postvention

Crisis prevention maintains wellness and recovery by averting a crisis. Crisis diversion deters crisis progression to more serious situations by enhancing the individual’s coping skills and supports. Crisis intervention attempts to alleviate the potentially debilitating effects of a crisis by stabilizing distress and restoring personal control. Crisis Postvention attempts to mitigate chronic effects resulting from the crisis episode and promotes post-crisis stability, recovery, and wellness.

Best!