Format: Live-online Lecturer Led Classes (Virtual-Classroom) via Zoom

Duration: 1 Evening Every Week 6pm to 9pm

Online Live Attendance: 30 Hours

Self-Directed Learning: 30 Hours

Total CPD Credits: 60 Credits

Assessment: Written Assignment +/- Viva Voca Assessment

Award: Accredited Professional Diploma

Course Accreditation:

- Professional Development Consortium

- Provider of Excellence

- CPD Standards Office

- Irish Counselling & Psychotherapy Association (ICPA)

- Irish Counselling & Psychotherapy Association (Directory)

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Week 1 — Foundations of Crisis Intervention

Learning Outcomes

• Define crisis, suicidal ideation, and risk

• Understand the psychology of crisis states

• Recognize immediate red flags requiring intervention

Lecture Topics

• What constitutes a crisis?

• The Crisis Cycle: escalation → peak → de-escalation

• Types of crises: emotional, psychological, situational, traumatic

• Roles & limitations of helpers

In-Class Activities

• Small-group discussion: What is a crisis?

• Introduction to the ABC Model (Acknowledge–Be Present–Collaborate)

Assignment

• Reflection: Personal attitudes and fears around suicide and crisis work.

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Week 2 — Suicide Risk: Myths, Realities & Warning Signs

Learning Outcomes

• Identify the spectrum of suicidal thoughts

• Challenge myths about suicide

• Recognize verbal, emotional, and behavioral warning signs

Lecture Topics

• Forms of suicidal ideation: passive, active, planning

• Risk vs. protective factors

• Immediate verbal and non-verbal clues

• Impact of stigma on help-seeking

Practice

• Warning-sign identification from case vignettes.

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Week 3 — Suicide Risk Assessment: Tools & Techniques

Learning Outcomes

• Conduct a structured risk assessment

• Ask suicide questions calmly and safely

• Assess intent, means, lethality, and immediacy

Lecture Topics

• Suicide assessment principles

• How to ask: “Are you thinking about killing yourself?”

• Assessing plans, access to means, past attempts

• Common assessment frameworks (non-proprietary)

Practice

• Role-play a full suicide assessment

• Safety-first interviewing skills

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Week 4 — Crisis Communication & De-escalation Skills

Learning Outcomes

• Learn active listening and emotional containment skills

• Practice de-escalation techniques

• Understand how to maintain calm during intense emotional distress

Lecture Topics

• Crisis communication do’s & don’ts

• Reflective listening & validation

• Grounding techniques

• Avoiding escalation traps

Practice

• De-escalation role-plays

• 5-minute grounding intervention exercises

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Week 5 — Crisis Intervention Models & Safety Planning

Learning Outcomes

• Apply crisis intervention frameworks

• Create effective, collaborative safety plans

• Understand short-term containment vs. long-term care pathways

Lecture Topics

• Crisis Intervention Models (non-copyrighted frameworks)

• Building a safety plan: triggers, coping skills, crisis contacts

• When to activate emergency services

• Documentation & follow-up

Practice

• Create a safety plan for a case study

• Review examples of real-world crisis plans (anonymized)

• Assignment

• Formative Assessment 1,000 Words: “How trauma impacts suicide risk.”

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Week 6 — Working With Self-Harm, Trauma & Compounding Stressors

Learning Outcomes

• Differentiate self-harm from suicide risk

• Understand trauma’s role in crisis

• Recognize when clients need specialist trauma support

Lecture Topics

• Why people self-harm

• The trauma-crisis connection

• Chronic stress, emotional dysregulation, and suicidal ideation

• Crisis management for trauma survivors

Practice

• Intervention planning for someone in emotional overwhelm

• Identifying trauma triggers during crisis work

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Week 7 — Crisis Intervention Across Populations

Learning Outcomes

• Adapt crisis responses to different client groups

• Recognize cultural, developmental, and situational considerations

Lecture Topics

• Adolescents & young adults

• Older adults

• LGBTQ+ individuals

• People with chronic illness or disability

• Cultural influences on suicide & help-seeking

• Working with families during crisis

Practice

• Group mapping of needs across populations

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Week 8 — Ethical, Legal & Professional Responsibilities

Learning Outcomes

• Understand duty of care and legal obligations

• Apply ethical decision-making in crisis situations

• Navigate confidentiality, consent, and emergency breaches

Lecture Topics

• Ethical principles in crisis response

• Limits of confidentiality

• Mandatory reporting requirements

• Working within competence & supervision

• Documentation best practices

Practice

• Ethical dilemma scenarios

• Writing crisis documentation entries

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Week 9 — Post-Crisis Care, Referral & Recovery Support

Learning Outcomes

• Support clients after a crisis stabilizes

• Navigate referral pathways

• Encourage resilience and ongoing care

Lecture Topics

• Post-crisis follow-up

• Referral options: medical, psychiatric, counseling, community

• Supporting clients through shame, fear & recovery

• Building resilience and coping strategies

Practice

• Building a collaborative referral plan

• Strengths-focused intervention exercises

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Week 10 — Professional Wellbeing, Vicarious Trauma & Final Assessment

Learning Outcomes

• Understand vicarious trauma, burnout, compassion fatigue

• Build a long-term professional self-care plan

• Integrate course knowledge into ethical practice

Lecture Topics

• Symptoms of vicarious trauma

• Self-care routines & boundaries for crisis responders

• Supervision as protective practice

• Course reflection & professional development pathways

Practice

• Designing a personal wellbeing plan

• Group discussion on real-world challenges

Final Project

• Summative Assessment TBC- 3,500 Words​

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PPROFESSIONAL DIPLOMA IN CRISIS INTERVENTION & SUICIDE PREVENTION
(Live Online)
60 CPD POINTS