Define "crisis intervention" in the context of mental health services.

The concept of "crisis intervention" in mental health services is specifically designed to address immediate and acute situations where individuals are experiencing significant distress or danger. This approach typically involves providing immediate support and intervention to stabilize the individual and manage their crisis effectively.

Crisis intervention is characterized by a focus on short-term strategies that can help to reduce the intensity of the distressing situation, facilitating immediate coping mechanisms and ensuring the safety of the individual. This is essential in preventing further deterioration or risk, such as self-harm or harm to others.

In contrast, long-term therapy focuses on ongoing issues and patterns over an extended period, which is not the goal during an initial crisis. Routine check-ins are more about maintaining relationships and monitoring progress rather than intervening in an acute crisis. Group therapy sessions are aimed at therapeutic support and sharing experiences, which is different from the targeted, immediate response required during a crisis situation. Therefore, the correct understanding of crisis intervention emphasizes the urgency and the goal of immediate stabilization, which aligns closely with the correct option.