ABSTRACT
The development of a crisis theory and a practice has evolved from an eclectic collection of processes and procedures from the social sciences and health and human services. Helping people in crisis is a complex, interdisciplinary endeavor. Because human beings encompass physical, emotional, social, religious, and spiritual belief systems, no one theory is adequate to explain the crisis experience or the most effective approach to helping people. A stressful event alone does not constitute a crisis; rather, a crisis is determined by the individual's view of the event and response to it. If the individual sees the event as significant and threatening, has exhausted all of his or her usual coping strategies without effect, and is unaware of or unable to pursue alternatives, then the precipitating event may push the individual toward psychological disequilibrium, a state of crisis. The death of a peer affects his or her family and members of the school.
