People face many struggles when they live with a mental health illness or watch friends and loved ones suffer from mental health problems. When we mention mental health, it involves the emotional, psychological, and social well-being of individuals, and it affects how they think, feel, and act. Because it is a medical condition based on brain chemistry, life experiences, or family history, diagnoses are done through observation of a person’s behavior.
Some behavioral changes due to mental health issues include, but are not limited to: social withdrawal, mood changes, lack of expressing feelings or concentration, sadness, depression, or drug and alcohol abuse. Because it is behavior-based, a mental health crisis can happen at any time or any place. Our goal is to support individuals who may experience mental health problems in themselves or loved ones, which we’ll cover in this article to equip you with the tools to treat and conquer a mental health crisis.
What is a Mental Health Crisis?
The National Alliance on Mental Illness defines a mental health crisis as “any situation in which a person’s behavior puts them at risk of hurting themselves or others and/or prevents them from being able to care for themselves or function effectively in the community.”
If you or a loved one is at risk of hurting themselves, the new Suicide and Crisis Line is available 24/7 by dialing or texting 9-8-8.
Note that different situations can lead to or contribute to a mental health crisis. Some of these stressors include changes at home, such as experiencing loss or death in the family, conflicts between family members, or domestic or emotional violence. Others find stressors at school or work, such as stress due to project deadlines, not feeling included among peers, or facing discrimination.
Lastly, some stressors are bound to social and personal circumstances, such as facing anxiety due to crowds, living in a community that faces violence or natural disasters, substance abuse, or not taking or missing medication.
No matter the stressor, individuals can equip themselves with information and resources to learn what to do during a mental health crisis. They can observe behavioral changes and recognize some of the warning signs of a mental health crisis, if present, so it can be addressed quickly.
Warning Signs of a Mental Health Crisis
Even though warning signs may not always be present, NAMI notes some common actions that could potentially result in a mental health crisis. Some of these include:
- Lack of personal hygiene practices, such as brushing teeth, bathing, or changing clothes.
- Changes in sleeping or eating habits, and extreme mood swings, such as high or low energy levels.
- Sudden emotional changes, such as suddenly feeling depressed or happy.
- Feelings of agitation increase, including violent or emotional behaviors, verbal threats, or destruction of property.
- Self-harm behavior, such as overuse of drugs or alcohol, or cutting themselves.
- Isolation.
- Losing touch with reality, such as delusions, hallucinations, or confusion.
- Paranoia or feeling excessive worrying or fear.
If you or a loved one are experiencing some of these warning signs, it’s important to make a plan to know what to do in a mental health crisis. If you made plans to attempt suicide or injure yourself or others on purpose, or if a friend or loved one has had talks about suicide, it’s imperative to get help.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is always available 24/7 by phone at 1-800-273-8255 and via Lifeline Chat. You can now text or dial 9-8-8 to reach the Suicide & Crisis line quicker.
Risk of Suicide
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the risk of suicide is a “major concern for people with mental health conditions and those who love them.” Most of the time, people at risk of attempting suicide provide warning signs. It is a frightening situation to experience, but warning signs must be taken seriously. Some of the common warning signs include the following:
- Giving away personal items or tying up loose ends, such as organizing personal affairs, making or updating a will, or paying off debts.
- Stockpiling on certain items, such as pills, weapons, drugs, or alcohol.
- Withdrawing from family or friends and saying phrases like “Nothing matters anymore,” “You’ll be better off without me,” or “Life isn’t worth living.”
- History of family/friend suicide, suicidal attempts, or previous self-harm or suicidal thoughts.
Note that a suicide attempt is a medical emergency that requires immediate help. You can call 911, the National Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-273-8255, a therapist, or a professional health care provider who has worked or will work with the person. Our team at the Alvarado Parkway Institute can help. You can reach our 24-hour crisis line at (619) 667-6125 for more information about our treatment programs or help during a mental health crisis.
What to Do During a Mental Health Crisis
When an individual is experiencing or is about to experience a mental health crisis, it can catch a person unaware as it can happen at unpredictable times. We will share with you some strategies to help an individual de-escalate a mental health crisis until professional help arrives.
The first step is to assess the situation to know how to proceed. Ask yourself if the person is in immediate danger of hurting others, themselves, or their environment. Is emergency help required? Is there time to call a mental health professional for guidance?
Remember that an individual experiencing a mental health crisis may not be able to clearly communicate or control how they think, feel, and act. Take into consideration that they may also not understand what you’re trying to communicate, so oftentimes, you will need to de-escalate a crisis by staying calm and trying to connect and empathize with an individual.
NAMI recommends the following techniques to de-escalate a mental health crisis:
- Use your body language by moving slowly, avoiding continuous eye contact, giving space so they don’t feel trapped, and letting them know of your actions before you start them.
- Listen to the individual to provide support, and ask them how you can help.
- Practice patience and don’t make judgmental comments, exacerbate arguments, or over-rationalize with them as they may not have the mental capacity at that moment to deal with the complex feelings they are experiencing.
If you are unable to de-escalate the mental health crisis, always seek additional help. When there is no immediate danger, call a mental health care professional, such as a psychiatrist, clinic, or therapist, so they can assess the situation and provide you with advice. Many times, an appointment or hospital admittance is the next step.
During a life-threatening situation, acts of violence, or property damage, don’t hesitate to call 911, and ensure you inform the operator that someone is experiencing a mental health crisis so they may dispatch a Crisis Intervention Training officer. These officers are trained to de-escalate mental health crises.
Ensure you are familiar with the mental health history and diagnosis, medications, any history of violence, drug abuse, delusions, or suicide attempts, as well as any stressors and what has helped in the past. You may need to provide this information to the 911 operator, so it’s important to know it.
Seeking Mental Health Treatment
When seeking mental health treatment, it is ideal for it to be a collaborative decision between health care professionals and the family, if possible. During a mental health crisis, a hospital stay is recommended. A hospital stay can be done as a voluntary admission, involuntary admission, or an emergency hold. During this time, the individual goes through evaluation and diagnosis to determine the best treatment plan.
There are different types of treatments and mental health care professionals depending on the best course of action. Learn more about the right mental health treatment in our blog post: Finding the Right Mental Health Treatment for You.
How to Prepare a Mental Health Crisis Plan
A mental health crisis is difficult to predict, especially if there is no showing of the warning signs. The best thing an individual can do is have a crisis plan in hand. The National Alliance on Mental Illness defines a crisis plan as a “written plan developed by the person with the mental health condition and their support team, typically family and close friends.”
The crisis plan can include the following information:
- Individual’s general information, including name, address, age, date of birth, family, and insurance information.
- Past diagnoses and treatment information.
- Current medication, doses, and diagnoses.
- Any history of suicide attempts or substance abuse.
- Type of treatment they prefer.
- Contact information for any local crisis line, mobile crisis unit, and health care providers.
- Safety plan and contact information for people who can provide support, such as family, friends, or neighbors.
Remember, the crisis plan is created in collaboration between individuals with a mental illness and their family members or friends. If there are any changes to the list above, the crisis plan should be updated accordingly. Lastly, the crisis plan needs to be shared with family members or friends, so they have it in hand when a mental health crisis occurs.
How to Get Help Right Away
There are resources available to get help right away during a mental health crisis. You can call 911 in case of emergencies. There are also the following resources that we mentioned above:
- National Suicide Prevention Hotline is available 24/7 by phone at 1-800-273-8255 and via Lifeline Chat.
- National Alliance on Mental Illness HelpLine is available Monday through Friday from 10 am to 10 pm ET at 1-800-950-6264 or helpline@nullnami.org.
If you or a loved one is struggling with a mental health crisis, our team at the Alvarado Parkway Institute can help. Our mission is to help individuals struggling with a mental illness, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or psychosis. Our inpatient programs provide highly structured mental health care for patients to manage their symptoms and daily life.
You can reach our 24-hour crisis line at 619-333-7050 for more information about our treatment programs or help during a mental health crisis.
Sources:
- https://www.nami.org/Support-Education/Publications-Reports/Guides/Navigating-a-Mental-Health-Crisis
- https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Warning-Signs-and-Symptoms
- https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Common-with-Mental-Illness/Risk-of-Suicide
- https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/January-2021/A-New-Tool-to-Help-Plan-for-Crises
