Crisis Intervention

Crisis Intervention

In the relatively short history of the species, humans individually and collectively have faced thousands of natural and human-caused disasters. How many earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, cyclones, tornadoes, fires, volcanic eruptions, droughts, blizzards, floods, landslides, famines, and disease epidemics have humans experienced [World Health Organisation (WHO), 2009]? How many violent assaults, individual or collective acts of suicide or homicide, and armed conflicts? How many have been enslaved, indentured, kidnapped, trafficked, tortured [European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 2010; United Nations (UN) Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking, 2010], and directly or indirectly terrorised by events in the world? How many people have been suddenly displaced from their homes, families, and communities? How many racial, ethnic, and religious communities have been subject to genocidal violence?

How many women and girls have been beaten, abused, raped or sexually assaulted, exploited, or imprisoned in their homes? How many have been publicly stoned, caned, or expelled from their communities (UN Division for the Advancement of Women, 2009)? How many children and elderly or disabled persons have been abused, neglected, or abandoned? How many men and boys have been executed or sentenced to jails and prisons? How many individuals and families have been deported or otherwise forcibly relocated? How many people have been confined to refugee camps?

How many people have died or suffered severe physical injuries and disabilities from work, home, recreational, or transportation-related accidents? How many individuals, families, and communities have been affected by accidents in the nuclear, oil, coal, steel, and manufacturing industries? How many families have been affected by the sudden onset of illnesses, such as strokes, heart attacks, and viral and bacteriological epidemics? How many communities have been affected by sudden and unexpected loss of income, food, or shelter?

Some people assume human life on this world is, or at least should be, relatively safe, predictable, benevolent, and fundamentally fair or just (Janoff-Bulman, 1992). However, the contemporary and historical evidence leads to a different conclusion. Despite the ability to think in complex ways and to create, innovate, and adapt to changing circumstances [Page 249]and opportunities, humans' incredible capacity for adaptation has limitations. Like other species, humans remain relatively fragile creatures whose lives can be threatened and sometimes end suddenly from a variety of events. Planet earth is hospitable in some places at certain times, and inhospitable at others. The environment is sometimes toxic and dangerous. Indeed, humans often engage in neglectful, exploitative, or violent actions toward themselves, other humans, other species, and the earth itself. These are times and circumstances of great uncertainty and considerable injustice due, in large part, to human acts of omission and commission. Many people experience insecurity, uncertainty, and injustice as more the rule than the exception. Indeed, for many human beings, life-threatening crises are ubiquitous.