CPE CPE Crisis Intervention and Support 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is 'psychological first aid' in the context of peer education?
- A clinical therapy technique requiring licensure
- An evidence-informed approach to support people after a distressing event (Correct answer)
- A method to diagnose PTSD in peers
- A pharmacological intervention for anxiety
Correct answer: An evidence-informed approach to support people after a distressing event
Psychological first aid is a non-clinical, evidence-informed set of supportive actions used to help people in the immediate aftermath of a crisis.
Question 2: During a campus crisis (e.g., a violent incident), peer educators should:
- Gather as much information as possible before acting
- Follow the institution's emergency response plan and defer to authorities (Correct answer)
- Independently manage peer distress without involving administration
- Continue regular programming to maintain normalcy
Correct answer: Follow the institution's emergency response plan and defer to authorities
Peer educators are part of a larger emergency response system and must follow institutional protocols, deferring leadership to trained emergency personnel.
Question 3: Which of the following is an example of secondary traumatic stress for a peer educator?
- Feeling tired after a long study session
- Experiencing emotional distress after repeatedly hearing peers' trauma stories (Correct answer)
- Getting frustrated with an unresponsive group during a presentation
- Feeling nervous before leading a workshop
Correct answer: Experiencing emotional distress after repeatedly hearing peers' trauma stories
Secondary traumatic stress occurs when a helper is emotionally affected by exposure to others' traumatic experiences, which is a recognized risk for peer educators.
Question 4: Self-care planning is considered essential for peer educators because:
- It satisfies certification requirements only
- It prevents burnout and maintains the educator's capacity to effectively support others (Correct answer)
- It is required by FERPA regulations
- It replaces supervision from professional staff
Correct answer: It prevents burnout and maintains the educator's capacity to effectively support others
Regular self-care preserves the emotional and psychological health of peer educators, enabling them to continue providing effective support.
Question 5: When a peer educator suspects a friend is struggling with substance abuse, the best first step is to:
- Confront them publicly to create accountability
- Have a private, non-judgmental conversation using 'I' statements (Correct answer)
- Report them to campus police immediately
- Avoid the topic to preserve the friendship
Correct answer: Have a private, non-judgmental conversation using 'I' statements
A private, empathetic conversation using 'I' statements avoids defensiveness and opens the door for the peer to seek help voluntarily.
Question 6: The term 'gatekeeping' in peer crisis support means:
- Restricting access to mental health resources
- Identifying individuals at risk and connecting them to help (Correct answer)
- Maintaining confidentiality of all disclosures
- Screening peers before they join support groups
Correct answer: Identifying individuals at risk and connecting them to help
In mental health contexts, gatekeeping refers to recognizing warning signs and acting as the entry point that directs at-risk individuals toward professional care.
CPE CPE Crisis Intervention and Support 2
What is 'psychological first aid' in the context of peer education?