Psychological Crisis Management
1 UNDERSTAND
What is Crisis?
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Crisis is a perception or experience of an event or situation of an intolerable difficulty that exceed s a person’s current resources and coping mechanism.
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In mental health, a crisis not a necessarily referred to a traumatic situation but the reaction of a person towards an event.
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A person might be deeply affected by an event but some other suffer little or have no ill effect.
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Crisis in Chinese word presents an excellent depiction of components in which formed by the character words of Crisis and Opportunity.
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In other words, a crisis represents an obstacle or threat but it also offers an opportunity for betterment and growth.
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Types & Causes of Crisis:
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Developmental Crises
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A crisis which is a predictable part of human life cycle in psychosocial development.
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Situational Crises
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Crisis that happens in sudden and is unexpected such as accident, disasters, being a victim of a crime.
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Existential Crises
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Crisis that refers to one’s inner conflicts that are related to life purpose and life direction that are rooted in a person’s existential concern.
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A crisis also occurs when a person losing job, failing to achieve the goals set, or even physical illness or break up. Some crisis might be less apparent but can still lead to a drastic change in emotions and behavior or causing mental health crisis.
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2 RECOGNIZE
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Crisis prevention begins with recognizing warning signs of imminent danger as such:
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Severe rage for seemingly minor reasons
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Self-injurious behaviors or threats of suicide
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Serious physical fighting with others
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Possession and/or use of firearms/other weapons
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Severe destruction of property
Immediate attention is required when you or someone else is:
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Showing/Talking/Thinking about a suicidal and/or homicidal attempt, gesture, threat, or detailed plans
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Posing a threat to self/others (Aggressive or unmanageable behavior)
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Increased anger or mood swings
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Behaving recklessly (the use of alcohol or other illicit substances or show a decreased of fear in dangerous situations)
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Losing touch with reality (psychosis)
3 MANAGE
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What to do when a psychological crisis strikes?
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Stay calm, to respond more effectively, and to reduce the person’s anxiety or agitation.
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Provide a quiet, private place for the person to rest while further steps are taken.
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Talk to the person in a clear, straight-forward manner.
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Be with the person while looking for assistance.
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Inform your supervisor.
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Make arrangements for appropriate intervention or aid.
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Phone consultation or appointment with CDU counsellors at 03-5623 2738/2740 (Mon-Fri 9am-6pm) and/or Walk the person over to the CDU
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Be prepared to provide as much information as possible about the person and the situation to the campus resource you contact.
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4 GET HELP
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In a life-threatening emergency, call:
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National emergency response service: 999 / 112 (mobile phone)
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IICS emergency hotline: 03-5623 2929
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IICS Security number: 03-5623 2750
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Police Station Subang Jaya: 03-5633 2222
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Sime Darby Medical Centre: 03-5639 1212
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University Malaya Medical Centre: 03-7949 4422
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St. John Ambulance number: 03-3371 5005
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Subang Jaya Fire & Rescue Station: 03-5634 9444
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Petaling Jaya Fire & Rescue Station: 03-7958 4444
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During a psychological crisis, you can contact below details for crisis assistance:
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(a) IICS Counselling & Development Unit:
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Phone: 03-5623 2738 / 2740 (Mon-Fri 9am-6pm) or
Email: iics.counselling@newinti.edu.my
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(b) External Counselling-based Helpline:
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BefriendersKL Hotline: 03-7956 8145/8144
Email: sam@befrienders.org.my
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Life Line Association of Malaysia: 03-4265 7995
(Mon 10am-12pm & 2pm-4pm; Mon-Fri 7pm-10pm; Saturday 2pm-5pm)
Email: counselling@lifeline.org.my
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Malaysian Mental Health Association: 03-7782 5499
Email: admin@mmha.org.my
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Agape Counselling Centre (mainly in Mandarin)
Counselling line: 03-7785 5955 or 03-7781 0800 (Tues-Sat 9am-1pm; 2pm-6pm)
WhatsApp: 012-242 1756
Email: agapemal@yahoo.com ; counselling.agape@gmail.com
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Talian Nur/Kasih by LPPKN: 15999 (24/7)
Email: taliannur@kpwkm.gov.my
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Telenita Helpline: 03-7877 0224
(Counselling & legal info; Mon-Fri 10am-4.30pm; Saturdays by appointment)
Email: telenita@awam.org.my
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Women’s Aid Organisation
WAO Hotline: 03-7956 3488 (Mon-Sat 9am-5pm; Tues, Wed & Fri 7pm-10pm)
WhatsApp/SMS TINA: 018-988 8058 (24/7)
Email: womensaidorg@gmail.com
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For directory of counselling services, you can go to:
(c) Or
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Go to the One Stop Crisis Centre (OSCC) at emergency department of government hospitals (Domestic violence, physical & sexual abuse);
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Make a police report;
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Get to a safe place immediately.
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In your call during crisis, state the following:
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"This is an emergency" and provide the following information:
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The nature of the emergency;
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Your name;
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Phone number from which you are calling;
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Your location;
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Do not hang up until you are sure no further information is required, unless there is an immediate threat to your safety.
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5 PLAN
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Create your own Psychological Safety Plan
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Psychological Safety Plan involves creating a structured plan that addresses a few aspects and the people you can call for support, as well as ways you think could be possibly help you working through the tough moments until you feel safe.
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It is a plan that is created at a time when you are feeling well and thinking clearly, before crisis strikes anytime.
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Pick a time when you’re feeling calm and settled to create your plan.
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Put your psychological safety plan in writing and keep it in a place where you can easily find it.
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Structure of Psychological Safety Plan
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Warning Signs
Warning signs are changes in situations, thoughts, moods or behaviors that suggest you may be heading towards a psychological crisis. List the warning signs so that you can refer to them when you are deciding on whether to activate your psychological safety plan.
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Reasons to Live
When you're in tough situations, it's easy to forget the positives in your life.
Your list of reasons to live may help you refocus your attention until the emotional distress passes.
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Internal Coping Strategies
List some calming activities that can distract you from being emotionally overwhelmed.
Make a list of people you could spend time with or social places you could go.
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People Whom I Can Ask for Help
Trusted friends and family members can help you stay safe and feel better by providing practical support, or just being there to listen.
List their names and contact details, and include back ups in case your first choice is unavailable.
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Professionals Whom I Can Contact
List the names, numbers, and/or locations of mental health professionals, crisis teams, and hospitals available to you, along with their contact details and operating hours.
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Emergency Contact
In an emergency, always call 999
On-campus emergency - Call 03-5623 2929 (24/7)
Keep the name and address of your nearest hospital emergency department or telephone crisis line.
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Make My Environment Safe
Take yourself out of unsafe situations and not doing things that trigger your feelings stronger or longer lasting.
Remove or secure any items that you are likely to use to hurt yourself.
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Make A Commitment
Commit to yourself that you will follow this plan when the need arises, and then commit aloud to someone else (e.g. your counsellor, a trusted friend) that you will follow this plan.
This is also called “a safety contract.”
Create your own Psychological Safety Plan Online
Download Psychological Safety Plan Template