Unlike books focusing on a single crisis topic, Crisis helps recognize common signs of endangerment across a range of life challenges by showing the interconnections between various harmful events. Through media coverage of school shootings, suicides, domestic abuse, workplace violence, and more, we've become accustomed to hearing about violence and trauma-almost invariably followed by reports that show all of the warning signs that were missed. While it is impossible to predict when, where, and with whom a crisis will occur, we do have the means to be better equipped to intervene in stressful situations before they tip over into a crisis. Important preventative information is readily available, and this book better prepares us to take appropriate responsive action. Often a crisis is the result of a critical life event; whether or not a life-changing event turns into a crisis depends on the type, timing, and interpretation of the event, the person's life cycle development phase, history of healthy coping, and available timely support. In sum, Lee Ann Hoff illustrates how to recognize crisis as both danger and opportunity. The more we know about how to spot a potential crisis and what to do, the more likely distressed persons will get the help they need.

Lee Ann Hoff, PhD, is a nurse-anthropologist and crisis specialist, the founding director of the Life Crisis Institute - an international not-for-profit organization in Boston (www.crisisprograms.org) - a former professor at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, a visiting professor at the Institute of Applied Psychology, Lisbon, and the author of several books on crisis and violence.

PART I: People in Crisis: How do They Feel, Think, and Act, and How Can We Help? Chapter 1 - Life Crises: How to Avoid Danger and Grasp Opportunity Chapter 2 - Recognizing the Different Faces of Distress on the Road to Full-Blown Crisis Chapter 3 - What to Do: How to Cope and Avoid Disastrous Crisis Outcomes PART II: Life-Threatening Crises: Suicide, Abuse, and Violence toward Others Chapter 4 - A Cry for Help: Suicide and Other Self-Destructive Behaviors Chapter 5 - Victimization by Violence, Sexual Assault, and Emotional Abuse Chapter 6 - The Violent and Abusive Person: Preventing Violence is Everybody's Business PART III: Crises Arising from Unexpected Stressful Events and Life Cycle Passages Chapter 7 - Threats to Health Status from A Serious Illness or Accident Chapter 8 - Loss of Job, Home, and Financial Security Chapter 9 - Life Cycle Changes, Loss and Growth: From Birth to Death.