Lee Ann Hoff

Understanding and Helping

People in Crisis

Moving beyond books that address a single type of crisis (e.g. death of a child; diagnosis of a serious illness; sexual assault). Its focus is on helping the general reader and non-specialists recognize common signs of crisis across a range of life challenges. It shows how unexpected events, e.g. death of a loved one or diagnosis of a serious illness often intersect with life cycle transition points (i.e., adolescence, mid-life, old age) and can leave people more vulnerable to slipping into crisis-especially when lacking one's usual social supports. Through extensive use of stories, the book aims to help people identify and respond appropriately to the typical feelings and behaviors when facing traumatic events and life-threatening crisis. For example, some people in acute crisis express a fear of "going crazy" or have thoughts of suicide or violence toward others. Readers will learn that the high anxiety typical of crisis is normal, not usually a sign of mental illness. Whether or not critical life events result in crisis depends on the type, timing, and interpretation of the event, the person's life cycle development phase, history of healthy coping, and available timely support. In sum, the book's central theme is crisis as both danger and opportunity.

How to Help Yourself and Others in Distress Or Danger

Crisis

Lisa Brown

Miracle R. Hoff

The first edition of People in Crisis, published in 1978, established success as a comprehensive and user-friendly text for health and social service professionals. The book and its following incarnations included critical life events and life cycle transition challenges, clearly pointing out the interconnections between such events, stressful developmental changes, and their potential for growth but also danger of suicide and/or violence toward others. This revised edition includes new case examples and expanded coverage of cross-cultural content, including 'commonalities and differences' in origins, manifestations, and crisis responses. The authors illustrate the application of crisis concepts, assessment, and intervention strategies across a wide range of health and mental health settings, as well as at home, school, workplace, and in the community. Each chapter contains a closing summary that includes discussion questions, references, and online data sources for maximum application and learning. Updated chapters discuss new, research-based content on: • workplace violence and abuse • youth violence in schools and higher education settings • the use of psychotropic drugs, including for very young children in the absence of comprehensive assessment • the crisis vulnerability of war veterans and the hazards of 'pathologizing' what should be considered a 'normal' response to the repeated and catastrophic trauma of war • the intersection of socio-political factors with individuals’ psychological healing from catastrophic experiences such as war and natural disaster.

Lee Ann Hoff

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