brain health insights for professionals

Working With Clients
In Behavioral Health Crisis

Dr. Dara Rampersad, First Responder and Forensic Psychologist

Friday, January 9, 2026 • 2pm—4pm
Virtual Event

REGISTRATION REQUIRED – closes 1/8 at 2pm

Behavioral health challenges can be a common occurrence in the journey of long-term brain injury recovery. This session will assist frontline staff in recognizing behavioral health crises early, engaging safely with clients for ongoing service delivery while understanding de-escalation protocol and how to complete a structured risk assessment with the client. Additionally, we will discuss coordination of care, documentation, and self-care after high-stress events.

Learning Objectives

1. Define “behavioral health crisis” and distinguish it from chronic risk or baseline symptoms.
2. Identify early warning signs and common crisis presentations (suicide risk, psychosis, mania, severe anxiety, intoxication, aggression).
3. Use a structured engagement and de-escalation approach that reduces risk and preserves dignity.
4. Conduct rapid, defensible risk screening (suicide/self-harm, harm to others, grave disability, abuse/neglect concerns).
5. Create or initiate a stabilization plan (safety plan, referrals, warm handoffs, higher level of care when indicated).
6. Apply legal/ethical principles (consent, confidentiality, duty to warn/protect, mandated reporting, documentation).
7. Collaborate effectively with mobile crisis, emergency services, family/supports, and community partners.
8. Use post-crisis debriefing and self-care strategies to prevent burnout and secondary traumatic stress.

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