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Crisis Intervention and Stress Management Flashcards

7 cards from real PSD practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Crisis Intervention and Stress Management flashcards as text

  1. Which stage of the Crisis Development Model involves the caller showing signs of extreme agitation and loss of rational thinking?

    Answer: Acting-out behavior

    Acting-out behavior is the stage where an individual loses rational control and may become physically or verbally explosive.

  2. Peer Support Programs in dispatch centers are designed primarily to:

    Answer: Provide confidential emotional support from trained coworkers following critical incidents

    Peer support programs offer confidential, coworker-led emotional support that reduces stigma and encourages dispatchers to seek help after traumatic events.

  3. A caller in a mental health crisis states, 'I just want everything to stop.' How should the dispatcher interpret this statement?

    Answer: As a possible expression of suicidal ideation requiring direct but compassionate clarification

    Ambiguous statements like 'I want everything to stop' may signal suicidal ideation and should prompt gentle, direct follow-up questions about safety.

  4. Which intervention strategy involves helping a caller in crisis identify what has helped them cope in the past?

    Answer: Strengths-based inquiry

    Strengths-based inquiry draws on a person's own proven coping resources, reinforcing self-efficacy during a crisis.

  5. What is the recommended dispatcher response when a caller admits to having taken an overdose but refuses to give their location?

    Answer: Continue talking to keep the caller conscious and use any available technology (e.g., Enhanced 911, location services) to determine location

    Keeping an overdose caller conscious and using all available location-finding technology maximizes the chance of successful rescue.

  6. Which of the following best describes 'grounding techniques' used in dispatcher self-care?

    Answer: Sensory-focused exercises that anchor a person to the present moment to reduce anxiety

    Grounding techniques use sensory awareness to interrupt stress responses and bring a dispatcher back to the present moment.

  7. During a high-volume multi-casualty incident, a dispatcher begins to feel overwhelmed and makes a routing error. The BEST immediate action is to:

    Answer: Notify a supervisor immediately, correct the error if possible, and request assistance managing call volume

    Immediate supervisor notification and requesting support ensures the error is corrected and prevents further mistakes during a high-stress incident.