Title: NVAA Learning Activity: Chapter 6.1: Mental Health Needs, Trauma
Assessment and Intervention
Series: Training Manual
Author: Office for Victims of Crime and National Victim Assistance Academy
Published: June 2002
Subject: organizational leadership
4 pages
3,798 bytes

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NVAA Learning Activity

Chapter 6.1: Mental Health Needs, Trauma Assessment and Intervention

INSTRUCTOR GUIDELINES

Key Concepts/Objectives to Emphasize in Instruction and Learning Activities:

1. Psychological and medical/physical effects of trauma. (6.1-6 to 6.1-10)
2. Key elements of a core needs assessment to identify and address victims'
basic needs. (6.1-5)
3. Basic interventions for traumatized victims. (6.1-16 to 6.1-22)

Objectives:

1. Identify key behaviors, affects, or words that might indicate trauma in a
victim as well as a need for a mental health referral.
2. Identify and compare mental health referral resources for victim assistance
and justice professionals.

Description of Activity and Faculty Guidelines:

The instructor divides students into groups of ten. Utilizing the worksheet,
students are instructed to spend five minutes on their own to:

o Identify five behaviors, affects, or words that might indicate trauma in a
victim, and/or the need for a mental health referral.
o Identify three resources in their community for mental health services for
victims.

A faculty reference sheet with samples of behaviors/affects/words is attached.


Following small group discussions of their ideas, the instructor facilitates a
"round robin" report-back to the full group, with each group identifying one
behavior/affect/word that might indicate victim trauma. The instructor can
record each group's response on a tear sheet.

Can Be Utilized As:

__X__ Individual Activity
__X__ Small Group Activity
__X__ Large Group Activity

Anticipated Amount of Time Required: 15 Minutes

o 03 minutes for small group divisions.
o 03 minutes for individual worksheets.
o 07 minutes for small group discussion.
o 02 minutes for "round robin" reports from each small group.

RESOURCES NEEDED  (Please check all that apply)

_____ Tear sheets and felt pens
_(X)_ VCR/monitor (for additional resource below)
_____ Overhead projector and screen/LCD and laptop
_____ Blank overhead transparencies and overhead pens
_____ Masking tape
_____ Index cards
__X__ Individual or group worksheets
__X__ Timer
__X__ Other (please describe): Faculty reference sheet
(Additional resource: NVAA videotape "Meeting the Mental Health Needs of
Crime Victims")

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STUDENT WORKSHEET

FIVE INDICATORS OF POSSIBLE VICTIM TRAUMA

1.

2.

3.


4.

5.

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THREE REFERRAL RESOURCES FOR MEETING THE MENTAL
HEALTH NEEDS OF VICTIMS IN MY COMMUNITY

1.

2.

3.

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FACULTY REFERENCE SHEET

WORDS/VERBAL (Including statements of:)

o Continual fear.
o Anger.
o Hostility.
o Guilt.
o Depression.
o Self-deprecation.
o Denial.
o Loss of faith.
o Loss of control.
o Rumination about the event or losses.
o Fixation.

AFFECT

o Extremely negative emotions (fear, anxiety, hostility, guilt, feelings of revenge,
etc.) that do not subside but remain or become even more intense.

BEHAVIORS

o Isolation from family, friends, co-workers, etc.
o Withdrawal.

o Getting too little or too much sleep.
o Nightmares and flashbacks.
o Decreased control (hitting things or people, angry outbursts, etc.).
o Overuse or abuse of alcohol/other drugs.
o Avoidance of certain people and places.
o Generalizing about people that remind them of the offender.
o Hyper-arousal (jumpy or fidgety, inability to concentrate, etc.).