The NARUTTO Method: Basic Peer-to-Peer Crisis Intervention
STOP! Before you scroll to the NARUTTO Method, please read these pointers and disclaimers!
Artwork by BWH Comics.
What's a NARUTTO and why do I need it?
Legally distinct, "NARUTTO" is our mnemonic for peer-to-peer crisis intervention that anyone can learn! Bystander intervention is a great tool for when you're nearby when an incident happens. So many parts of Right to Be's 5Ds of Bystander intervention can be helpful in any physical space you're in, whether that's a convention, party, or in places you go every day. However, a great many crises happen when no one is watching, or happen in such a way that it is imperceptible to those around the person in crisis. Sometimes, a person in crisis may choose a friend or nearby person to disclose to before or instead of seeking professional services. It's also the case that "how can I help?" is our most-asked question by non-survivors. For these reasons, it's great to have a more specific knowledge set that's easy to recall (if you're an anime fan, at least). Our staff at CSSN developed "NARUTTO" as a mnemonic to recall 6 steps you can take to help. It's based loosely on the SS-VV-PP model by NOVA, but also on our own added lived experiences and some instructions that are specific to our community. You can use it with your friends, with fellow con-goers, or even with yourself if you're alone or not yet ready to reach out to someone. This method is not to be taken as legal or medical advice and we do not offer certifications for applying the mnemonic. It's also not meant to infringe upon any existing copyright. Rather, we hope it sticks with you because it sounds familiar at first. Please use the NARUTTO method at your own discretion.What counts as a crisis?
If a person is in great distress, no matter the cause, it may be a crisis to them. There’s no amount of “enough” that qualifies a situation as being inherently a crisis for someone. It could be as general as a natural disaster or as specific as the frustration of forgetting your wallet at home and needing to deescalate before traveling back to retrieve it. It could be as serious as a cancer diagnosis or as seemingly unserious as wearing your shirt inside out and feeling embarrassed when someone pointed it out. The purpose of offering crisis intervention is not to judge whether or not the crisis someone is in is “valid” or “important.”How to show up for crisis intervention
"BELIEVE THEM!" You know, the legally distinct catchphrase that NARUTTO has! The first "rule" of crisis intervention is to believe the person who discloses to you, regardless of your feelings about the situation. If you can't step into their reality by accepting and believing what they're saying, you may not be the best person to help them right now. No one person is the right crisis interventionist for everyone. Recognizing when someone else might be better able to help the person in crisis is important. We've seen time and again posts of "I'm a safe person, find me at [Con]," but the truth is that you don't get to decide if you're "safe" for anyone. There are historical and enduring power dynamics inherent in all social interactions that you need to keep in mind when you decide to respond. Because the person in crisis may be presently unaware of these dynamics due to their mental state, it is your responsibility to be aware of them in this moment and behave accordingly. For example, if you are white and you are assisting someone who is nonwhite, you must understand the implications of your race and how it might affect how someone responds to your assistance. This applies to any privileged status: white, cis, straight, thin, able-bodied, etc. If the opposite is true and you are marginalized assisting someone with more privilege than you, please be aware of your own comfort and safety levels as you interact. Another thing to consider is whether intervening is something you have the bandwidth to handle right now. For the person in crisis to feel safe, you must also be able to feel safe. If you're stressed out, running late for something, or you simply can't dedicate time and attention to this person that they might need, it's okay to back out. However, if you do, it's kind to direct the person in crisis to other services. You may also want to limit your communication of needing to leave by only saying something like, "I need to go to [event], but I'll check in with you later"—not oversharing or putting the blame on the individual in crisis, which has potential to make them feel worse. Some people prefer crisis intervention with individuals they don't know so the situation feels more removed, and that's okay. Lastly, if the person in crisis doesn't feel comfortable continuing to share with you for any reason, accept it and process any personal feelings of rejection in another time and place. If you have difficulty compartmentalizing your feelings when you respond to crisis, consider investigating that within yourself and seeing if you could benefit from therapy work. This applies whether you're brand new to crisis intervention or have been doing it for years and facing challenges you haven't had before. Accepting, learning, listening; these are ingredients for responding to crisis in a healthy way.The NARUTTO Method: Step by Step
N - NAVIGATE
Help the person in crisis navigate to a place that they consider to be "safe." Safety is the first consideration you should have any time you are assisting someone in crisis. If they were just harassed in a public convention space, you might offer to escort them to a staff member, "quiet room," or another private place of their designation. A neutral space to you may not feel neutral to someone in crisis. If you're in a place you believe to be safe, check in with the person and ask if it feels safe to them. Whatever feels safe to them is where you will take them.
A - ALLOW
Allow the person to share as much of what's causing the crisis as they feel comfortable. Some people may not be able to put their experience into words, yet or at all. Give them time and space to open up if they would like. Don't press them; they will share what they feel safe sharing in the way that feels best to them. Become accustomed to not always knowing the details. Sometimes just sitting with them in present silence can be helpful.
R - REFLECT
When the person in crisis tells you their situation or concerns, reflect their words back to them rather than coming up with your own metaphors or conclusions. Giving them your undivided attention and using the exact phrasing they say can help someone believe you're listening, even if you already thought you were. Mirroring their body posture is another way to show this. You can use this time to observe if they look glazed over.
U - UNLOAD
Let the person unload everyhing they're feeling, unfiltered. You're living in their world temporarily; acknowledge how they view it. Be extremely nonjudgmental, even if you have personal thoughts on the situation or person. Understand that their feelings might not match what you think a survivor, target, or person in crisis might be thinking or feeling. When they share, validate any concerns or feelings they may have. This is not the time to play devil's advocate. Letting someone unload could look like their saying, "That guy was a real jerk! I can't believe he flipped out at me like that. I could just kill him!" and your replying, "Understandably, he really got heated!" (Even if the guy in question is your favorite voice actor and you have no intentions of letting someone harm him.) (But if you really think the person in crisis here has the intention to harm someone or themselves right now, circle back to "Navigate" to get them somewhere they feel they can be safe toward everyone. That level of escalation tends to be rare, though.)
T T - THINK THROUGH
Guide the person to think through the next steps they can take in the next few minutes, hour(s), and/or the rest of the day or convention. The person in crisis will know what feels "right" to imagine. Allow them to trust their intuition about next steps. You may not know what the resources are for someone in crisis wherever it's happening, and that's okay. For example, if someone discloses their crisis was surviving a sexual assault, one of the first thoughts you have might be getting in touch with a local rape crisis team. If that's what the person in crisis wants to pursue, you can plan to take a moment and look that information up. You can also write down their plan (on paper, on their phone, on your phone, etc.) if it feels helpful to them. Just remember to be present with the person while they share their thoughts.
O - OFFER
Offer multiple options the person in crisis can choose between. This step often comes in tandem with "Thinking Through" their next steps. Options that you offer should be concrete and limited to two or at most three options, depending on the situation. An example of offering options could be, "Do you want me to come with you to get your phone charger or do you want to go by yourself?" These options give the person in crisis the power to choose and by extension, to feel in control in a situation even if they recently felt powerless. Be prepared to be shot down or taken in a different direction with the options you give. Remember, it's not about you or your ability to guess their needs. The person in crisis will guide themselves, with you as someone watching over them.
We sincerely hope this mnemonic device helps you recall even one way you can help someone in crisis. And remember, the best way to start helping someone in crisis is to... BELIEVE THEM!