AIRS - Alliance of Information and Referral Systems Crisis Intervention Strategies Questions and Answers

Question 1

An I&R specialist receives a call from an individual who is audibly distressed and mentions feeling hopeless after a recent job loss.
According to the principles of Psychological First Aid (PFA), what is the MOST appropriate initial response?

Accepted Answer

Establish a human connection, listen non-intrusively, and provide emotional comfort.

Answer

Immediately begin searching for job placement services and provide a list of referrals.

Answer

Ask a series of direct questions to assess if they are a danger to themselves or others.

Answer

Advise the caller to contact a licensed therapist, as the I&R service is not equipped for counseling.

Question 2

During a call, an individual makes a vague statement about 'ending it all.' Which of the following is the best practice for an I&R specialist in assessing the level of suicide risk?

Accepted Answer

Ask direct questions about suicidal thoughts, plans, and access to means.

Answer

Change the subject to a more positive topic to improve the caller's mood.

Answer

Assume it is not a serious threat and proceed with the original request for information.

Answer

Wait for the caller to bring up the topic again before addressing it directly.

Question 3

A caller is extremely angry and yelling about being denied a service by another agency. Which de-escalation technique is most likely to be effective in this situation?

Accepted Answer

Using active listening skills to validate their feelings and allow them to vent.

Answer

Matching the caller's volume to show that you understand their frustration.

Answer

Immediately placing the caller on hold to give them time to calm down.

Answer

Explaining the other agency's policies to justify why the service was denied.

Question 4

According to the AIRS Standards, if an I&R service does not provide formal crisis intervention, what is required?

Accepted Answer

The service must have a pre-arranged agreement and documented protocol with a crisis center.

Answer

Staff must complete a 40-hour crisis counseling certification program.

Answer

The service is prohibited from taking calls from individuals who are in distress.

Answer

All calls identified as a crisis must be immediately transferred to 911.

Question 5

An I&R specialist is on a call with someone who is at imminent risk of self-harm, has a plan, and the means to carry it out, but refuses to consent to help. The specialist believes intervention is necessary to save their life. This type of intervention is known as:

Accepted Answer

Active rescue or involuntary intervention

Answer

Collaborative safety planning

Answer

A warm handoff

Answer

Psychological First Aid

Question 6

Which of the following is a primary goal of the SAFER-R model of crisis intervention?

Accepted Answer

To help the individual return to their mental baseline following a crisis.

Answer

To provide long-term psychotherapy for trauma survivors.

Answer

To diagnose the underlying mental health condition causing the crisis.

Answer

To gather demographic data for community needs assessments.

An I&R specialist receives a call from an individual who is audibly distressed and mentions feeling hopeless after a recent job loss.According to the principles of Psychological First Aid (PFA), what is the MOST appropriate initial response?

An I&R specialist receives a call from an individual who is audibly distressed and mentions feeling hopeless after a recent job loss.
According to the principles of Psychological First Aid (PFA), what is the MOST appropriate initial response?