Kriisijakso

Kriisijakso is a Finnish term meaning “crisis period.” It refers to a phase in which a system—an individual, an organization, or a society—experiences heightened instability and disruption due to a serious challenge, shock, or ongoing stressors. The concept is used across disciplines such as psychology, organizational theory, and disaster studies to describe the trajectory from initial impact through stabilization toward recovery. Characteristic features include onset that can be sudden or gradual, high uncertainty, intensified risk, and rapid change in behavior, performance, or well-being. The duration and course of a kriisijakso depend on factors such as resilience, available resources, leadership, information flow, and social support.

Common phases often described for a kriisijakso include an acute phase immediately after the disturbance, a stabilization or adaptation phase where coping strategies are tested and adjusted, and a recovery phase aimed at returning to a new normal. In practice, effective handling involves crisis preparedness (risk assessment, communication plans, contingency arrangements), timely response (clear messaging, decision-making, support services), and post-crisis learning (evaluation, policy or process changes to reduce future vulnerability).

Examples of kriisijakso include mental health crises following traumatic events, corporate crises after reputational or financial shocks, and broader societal crises such as natural disasters or economic downturns. The term emphasizes that crisis is not a single event but a period during which stabilization and transformation are possible.