Tamara is a 12-year-old adolescent who attends Hart City Middle School, where you work as the student success coordinator. Tamara has a history of child abuse and neglect, and her family experiences have contributed to her developing conduct disorder. She is currently living with her maternal grandmother, who serves as the court-appointed guardian, while her family is going through court processes related to child protective services. Since the start of the court proceedings, Tamara has been setting fires in the school bathroom, initiating fights with peers, and taking lunches from her classmates. On her way to lunch, Tamara stops by your office to tell you that she is not eating at home because her grandmother refuses to feed her. She believes that her grandmother is upset with her for reporting her parents’ abuse. However, she asks that you keep the conversation confidential because she is afraid of being placed in a group home. Although her grandmother is neglecting her, she would rather live with family than with strangers. Shortly after you meet with Tamara, you are asked to respond to the lunchroom because Tamara has placed her classmate in a headlock and refuses to let him go.

Post a response to the following questions:

• What signs and symptoms of a mental health crisis is the person exhibiting?
• What would your initial response be to the person in the case study?
• What non-clinical intervention would you implement to help the person manage the crisis, and why?
• What is one ethical and/or legal consideration you would make when responding, and why?