OPOTA- Unit 3 Topic 4
Identify the characteristics of a crisis state - ANS--An episode of mental and/or emotional
upheaval or distress that creates instability or danger, and causes behavior that is considered
disruptive by the community, by friends or family members of the person, and/or by the person.
-The elements of disruption and danger are why, in these situations, and people call law
enforcement rather than emergency medical services or mental health agencies.
-Often there is a precipitation event that triggers the crisis. (Examples (1) An emotional event
(e.g. the death of a loved one, an act of violence, divorce, job loss) (2) Medical event (e.g.
reaction to medication, a reaction caused by a failure to take medicine)).
-The person's perception of the event may be accurate, erroneous, or somewhere in between.
-Regardless of the accuracy of their perception, the person's normal methods of coping and
solving problems fail, resulting in a breakdown in control, an inability to respond appropriately, a
feeling of overwhelmed.
Causes of compromised coping capacity - ANS--Brain chemistry
-Deterioration of the brain
-Developmental disabilities
-Damage to the brain through blunt force
-Damage to the brain through severe stress and trauma
-Unbearable stress that causes suicidal thinking or actions
-Substance abuse
Factors that coupled with mental illness produce the greatest increase in the potential for
violence - ANS--History of violence
-Substance abuse and dependence
-Personality disorder (e.g. antisocial disorder, conduct disorder)
-Psychotic thoughts )e.g. Paranoid delusions, command hallucinations)
-Young male (Under 40)
, -Under social stress (e.g. poor, homeless)
-Recent personal stress, crisis, or loss (e.g. unemployment, divorce, spereation,
victim of crime in the past year).
-Early exposure to violence (e.g. family fights, physical or sexual abuse, parent
with criminal record)
Difference between traditional encounters and special population encounters - ANS--Is the
increased need to be non confrontational
-Special populations encounters frequently benefit from a change in response to on in which
de-escalation is the foundation.
Eight techniques of active listening - ANS--Emotional labeling (i.e. identifying the other person's
emotions)
-Reflecting/mirroring (i.e. Repeating the last few words or gist of the person in
crisis)
-Paraphrasing (i.e. restating in your own words the cruz of the other person's
message)
-Summarizing (i.e. extended version of paraphrasing; restating both the person's
message and emotion)
-Silence and effective pauses (i.e. deliberate silences before or after making a
meaningful comment)
-Minimal encouragements (i.e. verbal and non verbal cues when listening to
indicate attention to the other person's words)
-Open ended questions (i.e. questions that require more detailed responses than
merely "yes: or "no" to properly answer the question
-"I" messages
Emotional labeling (i.e. identifying the other person's emotions) - ANS--Provides the opportunity
for the other person to acknowledge his/her emotions and possibly explain their cause.
-Validates what the other person is saying rather than minimizing it.
-Once the emotions have been acknowledged, there is a better opportunity
Identify the characteristics of a crisis state - ANS--An episode of mental and/or emotional
upheaval or distress that creates instability or danger, and causes behavior that is considered
disruptive by the community, by friends or family members of the person, and/or by the person.
-The elements of disruption and danger are why, in these situations, and people call law
enforcement rather than emergency medical services or mental health agencies.
-Often there is a precipitation event that triggers the crisis. (Examples (1) An emotional event
(e.g. the death of a loved one, an act of violence, divorce, job loss) (2) Medical event (e.g.
reaction to medication, a reaction caused by a failure to take medicine)).
-The person's perception of the event may be accurate, erroneous, or somewhere in between.
-Regardless of the accuracy of their perception, the person's normal methods of coping and
solving problems fail, resulting in a breakdown in control, an inability to respond appropriately, a
feeling of overwhelmed.
Causes of compromised coping capacity - ANS--Brain chemistry
-Deterioration of the brain
-Developmental disabilities
-Damage to the brain through blunt force
-Damage to the brain through severe stress and trauma
-Unbearable stress that causes suicidal thinking or actions
-Substance abuse
Factors that coupled with mental illness produce the greatest increase in the potential for
violence - ANS--History of violence
-Substance abuse and dependence
-Personality disorder (e.g. antisocial disorder, conduct disorder)
-Psychotic thoughts )e.g. Paranoid delusions, command hallucinations)
-Young male (Under 40)
, -Under social stress (e.g. poor, homeless)
-Recent personal stress, crisis, or loss (e.g. unemployment, divorce, spereation,
victim of crime in the past year).
-Early exposure to violence (e.g. family fights, physical or sexual abuse, parent
with criminal record)
Difference between traditional encounters and special population encounters - ANS--Is the
increased need to be non confrontational
-Special populations encounters frequently benefit from a change in response to on in which
de-escalation is the foundation.
Eight techniques of active listening - ANS--Emotional labeling (i.e. identifying the other person's
emotions)
-Reflecting/mirroring (i.e. Repeating the last few words or gist of the person in
crisis)
-Paraphrasing (i.e. restating in your own words the cruz of the other person's
message)
-Summarizing (i.e. extended version of paraphrasing; restating both the person's
message and emotion)
-Silence and effective pauses (i.e. deliberate silences before or after making a
meaningful comment)
-Minimal encouragements (i.e. verbal and non verbal cues when listening to
indicate attention to the other person's words)
-Open ended questions (i.e. questions that require more detailed responses than
merely "yes: or "no" to properly answer the question
-"I" messages
Emotional labeling (i.e. identifying the other person's emotions) - ANS--Provides the opportunity
for the other person to acknowledge his/her emotions and possibly explain their cause.
-Validates what the other person is saying rather than minimizing it.
-Once the emotions have been acknowledged, there is a better opportunity
