Crisis Intervention in Social Work – Psychosocial Crises and Suicidality

Crisis intervention in social work: understanding psychosocial crises, talking about suicidality, safety planning and the legal framework – online course.

Online self-study course for social work professionals in counselling, child and youth welfare services, integration assistance for persons with disabilities (Eingliederungshilfe), homelessness services and hospital social services, as well as social work students – 8 modules, approx. 8 hours, at your own pace, with a confirmation of participation after working through all modules. Sources in APA 7 style, legal position as of September 2026.

The modules:

Understanding psychosocial crises: concept, crisis models, course of a crisis
Basic principles of crisis intervention in social work
Conducting conversations in acute crises: contact, relief, focus
Recognising suicidality and raising it directly
Evaluating suicide risk, safety planning and onward referral
Legal framework: confidentiality, necessity and involuntary admission
Domestic violence and acute danger: protection under the Violence Protection Act (GewSchG)
Aftercare, documentation, peer consultation and self-care

Self-study without supervision, assignments or evaluation of learning progress by instructors; the voluntary self-reflection is for your own orientation only. Your confirmation of participation becomes available once you have marked all modules as done yourself.

What you will learn

You can define the concept of a psychosocial crisis in professional terms and distinguish it from mental illness and from a medical emergency.

You can describe crisis intervention as a time-limited form of help focused on the current trigger, and distinguish it from psychotherapy and psychiatric treatment.

You describe the three movements of a conversation – contact, relief and focus – and place them within the course of a crisis conversation.

You place the scale of suicide in Germany using official figures and name men as a key target group of suicide prevention.

You explain what a shared evaluation of the current situation involves and why it is not a diagnosis.

You can explain the basics of professional confidentiality under Section 203(1) no. 6 of the German Criminal Code (StGB) and give reasons why the consent of the person concerned is the first route to any disclosure of information.

You describe domestic violence and acute threat as triggers of psychosocial crises and explain the connection between experiences of violence, crisis and suicidality.

You give reasons why aftercare and continuity are part of crisis intervention, and you plan follow-up contacts, the review of a safety plan and referral on to further support.

Self-study at your own pace

Confirmation of participation after working through all modules

Crisis Intervention in Social Work – Psychosocial Crises and Suicidality

Crisis Intervention in Social Work – Psychosocial Crises and Suicidality

What you will learn

Included in the e-learning flat rate

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