What to Do in a Crisis

Your body and brain frequently send you signals when you have a mental health problem that makes you feel as though you are in a crisis. But occasionally, you can find yourself in a perilous circumstance.

For the sake of this discussion, a crisis could be falling into legal trouble or harming yourself unintentionally or on purpose. A crisis situation also exists if you find yourself contemplating harming others or planning to end your own life.
Consider the Situation

Evaluate the Situation 

What kind of a crisis do you have? Is it something that needs to be treated right away?

You should immediately seek medical attention in an emergency department or dial 911 if you have made plans to commit suicide.

If you’re unsure whether something is urgent, consider whether you’ve already considered the approach you would take. You’ve started creating a plan if you’ve considered where, how, or when to end your life.

If you’re still unsure, ask a friend or member of your family to stay with you while you might be in danger. Help is available if you or someone you know is hurting or in need. To contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, dial 988, text 988, or chat online at 988lifeline.org.

Contact your mental health providers as well. Inform experts and those in your immediate area of what is happening and seek their counsel. 

Avoiding a Crisis

It’s crucial to prepare in advance if you have a mental health condition. When you discuss your options with your treatment team, you can decide where to go for intensive care, how to get there, how to take time off work or justify your absence to others, and how to stay calm in an emergency.

Above all, you should know how to contact your mental health specialists in an emergency so that you can inform your loved ones. Additionally, if there is a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) in your area, you should be aware of their phone number. Police officers with special training in dealing with mental illness crises are known as CIT officers.

If your health has deteriorated recently but you are not experiencing suicidal thoughts, you may need to get treatment or adjust your treatment plan if you are already receiving it.

Talk With Your Doctor

The moment you see a decline in your health, phone the people who can help with your mental health and explain the problem. Be honest and transparent about your treatment plan’s successes and failures without fear.

Make an urgent appointment with your primary care physician if you don’t already have one, just like you would for the flu or infection so that you can start looking for professional support right away if you don’t already have one.

Reach Out to Others

Many people find comfort and support from friends, family, and support groups when going through challenging circumstances. The NAMI Helpline, which can be reached at 800-950-6264 or info@nami.org, can offer you sympathy, support, and details on local options.

Calling a “warmline”—a phone number where trained volunteers provide sympathy and support—can also be useful. Call 211 to find a warmline in your region, or visit www.211.info for details on nearby social services. However, both of these support groups frequently consist of untrained peers who are dealing with mental health issues

Take Care Of Yourself

Think about what has helped stabilize you in the past and create a “toolbox” of coping mechanisms. Would it help to talk to a friend? To meditate or take a nap? To exercise or go for a walk? Take action to help yourself, even if you doubt it will work. Doubt and feelings of helplessness may be symptoms of a mental health condition. Do something that might make you feel better and observe how you feel afterward.

Your immediate discomfort will be easier to bear if you have a long-term treatment plan because you can remind yourself that your difficult times are becoming less and less severe. Remember that you are not alone and help is available.