Behavioral Crisis Intervention and De-escalation

Who should take it

All staff who interact with clients, including front-desk, direct-care, clinical and community-based staff.

Foundational de-escalation education. It doesn't certify you in a proprietary crisis prevention program or in any physical intervention, and it doesn't replace hands-on training your organization or licensing rules require.

What employees will learn

• ✓Recognize early warning signs that a person is becoming agitated.
• ✓Explain how stress and trauma affect a person's ability to regulate emotions.
• ✓Use verbal and non-verbal de-escalation techniques.
• ✓Adjust the environment to reduce triggers and keep exits clear.
• ✓Know when to call for help and when to activate emergency response.
• ✓Document a crisis and take part in a post-crisis debrief.

Topics covered

• •Early warning signs
• •Emotional dysregulation
• •Verbal de-escalation
• •Nonthreatening communication
• •Trauma-informed responses
• •Environmental modifications
• •Staff and patient safety
• •Emergency activation
• •Post-crisis documentation

Sources this course is based on

• Richmond JS et al. Verbal De-escalation of the Agitated Patient: Consensus Statement of the American Association for Emergency Psychiatry Project BETA De-escalation Workgroup. West J Emerg Med. 2012;13(1):17-25 · Other
• SAMHSA's Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach (HHS Publication No. SMA 14-4884) · SAMHSA
• Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence for Healthcare and Social Service Workers (OSHA 3148) · OSHA
• Hospital patient's rights, including restraint and seclusion training (42 CFR 482.13(f)) · eCFR