Crisis / Suicide Intervention

Question 1

What are the four steps of crisis intervention?

Answer 1

1. Determine severity
2. Forming a connection
3. Showing empathy
4. Exploring the problem

Question 2

People communicate on two levels. Briefly describe each.

Answer 2

1. Content
   Simple facts - telling a story
2. Emotions
   The emotional reaction to the facts. Feelings about circumstances

Question 3

True or False:

EMOTIONAL REACTION and SUBSEQUENT BEHAVIOUR make the situation a crisis - not the facts of the situation.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

What are the three types of suicidal groups encountered by Police?

Answer 4

1. Suicidal people in the community.
2. Suicidal people in custody/institutions.
3. Suicide by cop

Question 5

What is the most difficult type of suicidal person to negotiate with?

Answer 5

Psychologically disturbed.

Question 6

What are the two types of negotiation incidents? Briefly describe each.

Answer 6

1. Expressive
   Characterized by emotions. No demands or clear objectives.
2. Instrumental
   Substantive demands, clear objectives which benefit the subject.

Question 7

Describe the steps on the Behavioural Change Stairway:

Answer 7

1. Active listening skills
2. Empathy
3. Rapport
4. Influence
5. Behaviour change

Question 8

What is the Suicide Intervention process?

Answer 8

1. Build empathy and trust
2. Listen for clues (verbal/behavioural)
3. If clues suggest suicide - ask

Question 9

What are the four indications of progress in suicide interventions?

Answer 9

1. Willingness to talk
2. Talk about the future
3. One reason to live
4. Concessions

Question 10

What are some warning signs associated with Victim precipitated homicide?

Answer 10

Subjects only demand is to be killed by Police
Subject sets a deadline for their death
Subject has just murdered their significant other
Subject makes a verbal will
Subject has no escape plan
Subject is from a low socio-economic background
Subject has features of inadequate personality
Subject is looking for macho ways to die
Subject refuses to negotiate
Subject has an elaborate death plan

Question 11

What is the purpose of suicide intervention?

Answer 11

To defuse intense emotions
To return the subject to their normal functioning level
To establish rapport and communicate empathy
To gain intelligence
To buy time

Question 12

What are the three elements of suicide characterised by?

Answer 12

Hopelessness
Helplessness
Ambivalent about living