This article presents a crisis intervention model devised by Andreoli (Geneva) which is currently being developed in most crisis units & emergency services in French-speaking countries of Europe. Two clinical examples are presented: the Short Therapy Centre (Geneva) & the crisis unit of the Saint-Luc Clinic (Brussels). The following aspects are discussed: the need for crisis intervention rather than a simple answer to emergency; the need for crisis intervention in all acute psychiatric disorders & not only in psychosocial problems; & the need to integrate psychiatric hospitalization into a coherent mental health policy; the need for well-trained & around-the-clock teams; & the need for continuity of care. (38 refs.)