Mental Health Crisis Responder Course Curriculum

Course Duration: 4 Hours
Target Audience: Community Volunteers, First Responders, Educators, Healthcare Professionals, and Anyone Interested in Learning to Respond to Mental Health Crises
Objective: Provide participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively respond to individuals in mental health crises, ensuring compassionate, safe, and appropriate intervention.
Curriculum Overview
This 4-hour course will teach participants how to recognize the signs of a mental health crisis, respond with empathy and professionalism, and connect individuals to appropriate care. Participants will also learn how to de-escalate tense situations and how to ensure that individuals in crisis receive timely and effective help.
Curriculum Outline

1. Introduction to Mental Health Crises (30 minutes)

• Objective: Introduce participants to what constitutes a mental health crisis and the role of a crisis responder.

  • Defining a Mental Health Crisis: What is a mental health crisis? (e.g., panic attacks, suicidal ideation, severe anxiety, psychosis, substance abuse, etc.)

  • Common Mental Health Crises: Brief overview of different crises individuals may experience (e.g., self-harm, aggression, dissociation, severe depression).

  • Why Crisis Response is Important: The critical role of responders in ensuring safety, providing support, and preventing harm.

  • The Role of a Mental Health Crisis Responder: How responders can assist individuals in distress and prevent situations from escalating.

Activity: Group Discussion – Participants share what they understand by a "mental health crisis" and discuss any personal experiences or concerns.

2. Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of a Mental Health Crisis (45 minutes)

• Objective: Teach participants how to recognize early signs and symptoms of various mental health crises.

  • Identifying Signs of a Mental Health Crisis:

    • Behavioral Symptoms: Extreme agitation, withdrawal, aggression, disorientation, or erratic behavior.

    • Emotional Symptoms: Severe anxiety, depression, mood swings, or hopelessness.

    • Physical Symptoms: Unexplained physical injuries, fatigue, changes in appearance, or neglect.

  • Mental Health Disorders Associated with Crises: How to recognize a crisis related to disorders like depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, PTSD, or substance use.

  • When to Identify a Crisis: How to differentiate between a typical reaction to stress and a more serious mental health emergency.

Activity: Case Study – Present a scenario and ask participants to identify the signs of a potential mental health crisis.

3. The Art of De-Escalation (1 hour)

• Objective: Equip participants with practical techniques to calm and de-escalate tense situations, ensuring safety and support for the individual in crisis.

  • What is De-Escalation?: The process of reducing emotional intensity in a potentially volatile situation.

  • Key Principles of De-Escalation:

    • Stay Calm: Remain composed and focused on the person in crisis.

    • Use Non-Threatening Body Language: Maintaining open and non-confrontational body language.

    • Active Listening: Show empathy by listening attentively and reflecting the individual’s feelings.

    • Maintain Boundaries: Set clear, respectful boundaries without being confrontational.

    • Validate Feelings: Acknowledge the person’s emotions, even if you don’t fully understand them.

  • Verbal Techniques: How to speak calmly, use a soothing tone, and avoid triggering phrases.

  • Physical Presence: Managing personal space and understanding how proximity and body language affect the situation.

  • Managing Aggression: Recognizing warning signs of potential aggression and steps to take to minimize the risk of violence.

Activity: Role-Playing Exercise – Participants pair up and practice de-escalation techniques in different crisis scenarios (e.g., someone having a panic attack, an individual experiencing severe distress).

4. Ensuring Safety and Calling for Help (45 minutes)

• Objective: Teach participants how to ensure safety for both the individual in crisis and themselves, and how to connect individuals to appropriate resources.

  • Ensuring Safety:

    • Personal Safety: How to recognize potentially dangerous situations and maintain a safe environment.

    • Safety of the Individual: Ensuring that the person in crisis is safe and not at risk of harming themselves or others.

  • When to Call for Professional Help: Identifying situations where a crisis responder should escalate the situation to professional mental health providers or emergency services (e.g., suicidal ideation, aggression, or psychosis).

  • Using Crisis Hotlines and Resources: Understanding the availability of crisis hotlines, mobile crisis units, and emergency mental health services.

  • Working with Law Enforcement: How to effectively communicate with police or emergency medical personnel during a crisis intervention.

  • Legal and Ethical Considerations: Brief discussion of privacy laws (e.g., HIPAA) and the importance of respecting the rights and dignity of the person in crisis.

Activity: Scenario-Based Discussion – Participants will walk through different crisis situations and decide when it’s necessary to call for backup or professional help.

5. Connecting to Resources and Follow-Up (30 minutes)

• Objective: Ensure participants know how to refer individuals in crisis to appropriate resources and support systems.

  • Mental Health Resources: Overview of local, regional, and national resources, including mental health clinics, therapists, crisis intervention teams, and support groups.

  • Referral Process: How to safely and effectively refer someone to mental health professionals, emergency rooms, or crisis stabilization units.

  • Follow-Up Care: The importance of following up after a crisis and ensuring continued support, including connecting individuals to long-term treatment options if necessary.

  • Community Support Systems: How to work with community organizations that support individuals in mental health crises (e.g., NAMI, local mental health agencies).

Activity: Resource Mapping – Participants will receive a handout listing local mental health resources and practice making appropriate referrals based on different scenarios.

6. Reflection and Evaluation (30 minutes)

• Objective: Encourage participants to reflect on what they’ve learned and assess their readiness to respond to a mental health crisis.

  • Review of Key Learning Points: Recap the techniques and knowledge covered in the course.

  • Personal Reflection: Participants take a few minutes to reflect on their own thoughts about mental health crises and how they can apply what they’ve learned in their personal or professional lives.

  • Course Evaluation: Participants complete a short evaluation to provide feedback on the training session and suggest areas for improvement.
     

Additional Resources

• Handouts:

  • List of local mental health resources and crisis centers.

  • Tips for de-escalating different types of mental health crises.

  • A checklist for responding to a mental health crisis.

• Crisis Responder Guidebook: A comprehensive resource with de-escalation techniques, legal guidelines, and referral information for responders.

• Follow-Up Resources: Information about advanced training in Mental Health First Aid, Psychological First Aid, and community-based mental health programs.