Case Study

Crystal Garcia

CJ 440: Crisis Intervention

Unit 3: Case Study Assignment

November 5, 2013

Case 1:

You have been called out to a scene in which a 35-year-old woman is experiencing a crisis. Her husband just committed suicide and she is distraught about her circumstances.

What information would you want to know before intervening?

The necessary information needed before I intervene would be whether or not the woman is safe. Also if there is anyone else with her and are their safety being compromised. Next I would want all the details surrounding the husband’s suicide. Was she there to witness the suicide? I would be asking how he did it, with what he did it with. Is the wife still in the same vicinity of the body still looking at him? Then I would be going into the details of their relationship, how long have they been married? Do they have children? If they do have children can we locate them and bring them here to the scene? Also what will her situation be like because of his death? For example, does she work or was he the only source of income? Will she be dealing with an even greater crisis and that is to stay on her feet? Finally I would want to know if she suffers from any mental disorders, has she been treated for any mental illnesses and has she experienced any other crises such as this one or others with such a great impact.

After finding out the necessary information, how would you handle this case?

Once I have been given all information needed I would take that information and figure out the totality of all the details of the case and try to find a way to approach her in a way that would make her understand I am here to help her. Depending on the mental and emotional state the woman is in will depend if I can even move forward with the case. In some cases like this the wife could be so distraught that she needs to be medicated and transported to a facility to help her and that is when I would try to approach her.

Six Step Model of Crisis...