Everyone hopes they’ll never experience or witness a mental health crisis. But everyone should know what to do if they ever find themselves in a situation that requires immediate action.
Start by evaluating the situation. What’s the nature of the crisis? Does it require immediate treatment or intervention?
If you’ve determined you’re in a mental health crisis, you have a few options for how to seek help.
If you call a national hotline or helpline, you’ll be put in touch with someone trained to talk you through your crisis. These are often well-suited to people who aren’t in immediate physical danger and feel they can get through the crisis with support, or people who are in crisis but are having a hard time identifying next steps or what resources are available to them.
If you call 911, you may be taken to the hospital for monitoring and support until you’re more stable. Upon being admitted into the emergency room, expect to answer questions about your insurance, medical history, mental state, etc. The medical staff will quickly assess how urgently care is needed. A psychiatric examination will establish a “working diagnosis” and a plan of action. Many people in the hospital receive calming medication (when needed), crisis counseling, an explanation of what’s happening, and a referral for treatment after discharge.
Ask for help if you need it. This can include contacting friends or family members, partners, or your school (if you’re a student). It may also be wise to notify relevant people at work (if you’re concerned about the crisis interfering with your work or about someone showing up at your place of employment). If the danger is immediate, you may also need to contact local law enforcement for help or protection.
Recognize any feelings as they come up. A lot of people feel embarrassed to feel shaken up by an upsetting or stressful experience, but it’s completely normal.
Do this after you’ve handled the immediate problem. Most therapists aren’t equipped or available to handle emergencies because they have a caseload and appointments to manage. But if you’ve had a mental health crisis, it’s important to let them know so they can help you manage the aftermath.
If you live with a mental health condition, it’s a good idea to prepare for a crisis before it happens. Talk to your treatment team about where to go for emergency treatment, how to take time off work, and how to explain a potential absence to others.
Your therapist can also provide you with methods to calm yourself and keep yourself safe in an emergency. Make sure you and those close to you (especially the people you live with) know what to do if you’re ever in crisis. NAMI’s Navigating a Mental Health Crisis guide is a good resource to help get you started.
No one wants to handle a mental health crisis. But preparing ahead of time can help you handle it if one ever arises. You can even learn techniques to prevent situations from escalating and becoming an emergency in the first place.