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Situation De-escalation
De-escalation is a technique for managing and reducing the severity of a potentially volatile situation.
It is especially helpful in dealing with mental health crises and can be used by family members, friends, or professionals.
MyCare Living’s Methods to De-escalate Situations
Risk assessment is an important component of de-escalation because it allows our team to identify and prioritise potential hazards while taking steps to mitigate or manage them.
Maintain our cool: It’s critical for our team to maintain their cool and avoid becoming angry or upset. This can make the individual feel more at ease and less threatened.
Use a soothing tone: When speaking to the person, our team uses a soothing tone.
They avoid raising their voice or using confrontational language. Words are carefully selected to ease the situation or to avoid it escalating.
Give the person some space: If the person is agitated, giving them some space may be beneficial. Allow them to take a break and leave the situation if necessary.
Listen: Allow the individual to express their feelings and thoughts without interfering or judging them.
Simply listening can be an effective way to demonstrate support and make the person feel heard and understood.
Provide options: Provide the person with options and allow them to make their own decisions. This can give them a sense of control over the situation and reduce feelings of helplessness.
Seek professional assistance: If the situation is severe or it’s not possible to effectively de-escalate the situation, professional assistance may be required and called in. If another team member or Team Leader is unable to assist then contacting a crisis hotline or a mental health professional for additional assistance is actioned.