CBHCM Crisis Intervention Strategies 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A case manager receives a call from a distressed client at 2 AM. Which crisis line resource is federally designated for mental health and suicide crises in the US?
- 211 (United Way Helpline)
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (Correct answer)
- 911 Emergency Services
- 1-800-THERAPIST
Correct answer: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline was established as the national three-digit dialing code for mental health crises in the US.
Question 2: Which intervention is most appropriate when a client in crisis is hyperventilating and experiencing panic?
- Asking detailed intake questions
- Guided diaphragmatic breathing exercises (Correct answer)
- Reviewing their medication history
- Scheduling a follow-up appointment
Correct answer: Guided diaphragmatic breathing exercises
Diaphragmatic breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, directly counteracting the physiological panic response.
Question 3: In the context of trauma-informed crisis care, 'universal precautions' means:
- Using PPE with all clients
- Assuming every client may have a trauma history (Correct answer)
- Screening all clients for infectious disease
- Applying the same intervention to every crisis
Correct answer: Assuming every client may have a trauma history
Universal precautions in trauma-informed care means treating every client as if they may have experienced trauma, regardless of presenting issue.
Question 4: A client experiencing command hallucinations to harm others requires the case manager to:
- Reassure the client the voices are not real
- Assess for danger to others and consider duty to warn obligations (Correct answer)
- Refer to outpatient therapy for long-term treatment
- Document the hallucinations and continue regular services
Correct answer: Assess for danger to others and consider duty to warn obligations
Command hallucinations with violent content require immediate danger assessment and may trigger duty-to-warn legal obligations.
Question 5: Which stage of the Roberts Seven-Stage Crisis Intervention Model comes immediately after establishing rapport?
- Identifying the major problem (Correct answer)
- Psychosocial and lethality assessment
- Generating and exploring alternatives
- Planning a follow-up
Correct answer: Identifying the major problem
In Roberts' model, after establishing rapport (Stage 2), the case manager identifies the major problem or precipitating event (Stage 3).
Question 6: Mobile crisis teams are most effective when they include:
- Only law enforcement officers trained in CIT
- Co-responders including a mental health professional and peer support (Correct answer)
- Paramedics and emergency medical technicians only
- Social workers operating independently from all emergency services
Correct answer: Co-responders including a mental health professional and peer support
Co-responder models pairing mental health professionals with peer support have demonstrated the best outcomes for psychiatric crisis response.
Question 7: A safety plan differs from a no-suicide contract primarily because:
- Safety plans are shorter documents
- Safety plans are collaborative tools with coping steps, while no-suicide contracts rely on a promise with little evidence of effectiveness (Correct answer)
- No-suicide contracts are more legally binding
- Safety plans require hospitalization commitments
Correct answer: Safety plans are collaborative tools with coping steps, while no-suicide contracts rely on a promise with little evidence of effectiveness
Safety plans are evidence-based collaborative documents outlining warning signs, coping strategies, and support resources, while no-suicide contracts lack empirical support.
CBHCM Crisis Intervention Strategies 3
A case manager receives a call from a distressed client at 2 AM.
Which crisis line resource is federally designated for mental health and suicide crises in the US?