Depicts the key elements of crisis & crisis intervention: hazardous events, coping, time limits & outcome. Discusses Caplan’s & Rapoport’s outline of response patterns for healthy crisis resolution. Questions to help interveners in moving through the 1st session of a crisis are given, & a case example of a 21-yr-old student who expressed suicidal feelings is presented. The crisis matrix, adjunctive treatment methods, community intervention, & prevention are discussed. (5 refs.)