Engage or Enrage: De-escalation Strategies for Mental Health Crisis (Part One)-View Presentation Slides

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The American Psychiatric Association hosted a webinar titled "Engage or Enrage: De-escalation Strategies for Mental Health Crisis (Part One)" on February 3, 2022. The session focused on training mental health professionals to effectively manage crisis situations through de-escalation techniques. The event was led by Marc Fagan, PsyD, and Brian Bean from Thresholds Youth and Young Adult Services.<br /><br />The webinar emphasized the importance of self-awareness and active listening as crucial tools for crisis de-escalation. Participants were taught to evaluate crisis dynamics, develop skills for self-awareness, and use communication techniques to engage individuals in crisis constructively, avoiding power struggles. It covered understanding crisis stages, described as a "crisis volcano," which ranges from dormant to explosion, each requiring different intervention strategies.<br /><br />Self-awareness helps professionals respond rather than react during a crisis by understanding one's body reactions, emotions, and potential biases. Active listening, a vital de-escalation tool, helps build trust with the person in crisis by demonstrating attention and empathy. Techniques include non-verbal communication such as appropriate eye contact, an open posture, and a calm tone of voice.<br /><br />Participants were encouraged to assess their environment actively—considering their surroundings, potential exit points, and other situational dynamics—to help make strategic decisions during a crisis. The session also introduced supportive strategies like providing distractions, offering sympathetic signals, and appealing to the individual’s self-interest to help reduce stress and manage lower-level crisis stages.<br /><br />The webinar concluded by inviting participants to a follow-up session focused on high-level crises and further strategies for effective de-escalation. Slides from the presentation and additional resources are available through the APA's SMI Adviser platform, where attendees can also claim continuing education credits.

Keywords

de-escalation strategies

mental health crisis

self-awareness

active listening

crisis management

American Psychiatric Association

Marc Fagan

Brian Bean

Thresholds Youth Services

crisis volcano