Instructions for Psychiatric Crisis Intervention

Many of the major mental illnesses --- such as clinical depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder --- are characterized by crises. These crises often occur at the weekend, during the night or on public holidays. They sometimes take place in public and cause havoc and distress within families. Sometimes, the person who is mentally ill does not recognize that she is not well. She may have stopped taking the medication that keeps her stable and she might refuse to go to a physician's office or a mental health center. However, there are steps you can take to help a person in this situation.

Instructions

• 1

  Learn as much about the illness as you can. Learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of any deterioration. Check that the person takes his medication as directed. People with a mental illness sometimes feel that they no longer need to take their medication and this often coincides with a relapse. Urge the mentally ill person to seek help before the crisis occurs, if possible.

• 2

  Write down the number of the toll-free psychiatric crisis line, or its equivalent, in your area. Find this number in the directory or at your physician's or mental health clinic's office. Call this number, or encourage the ill person to call it, during a crisis intervention. Speak to a specially-trained referral specialist who will advise you on the next step. You may be told to take the person to a crisis walk-in center, if there is one in your area.

• 3

  Wait for a mobile mental health crisis team if there's one in your location. If not, you may need to call emergency services. Nearly every location has an emergency provision for dealing with acute mental illness. Sometimes, a mentally ill patient will not go to a crisis center or will not be able to do so. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) may have take the person to a psychiatric admissions unit or ward. The staff there will observe, assess and treat the patient.

• 4

  Reassure the mentally ill person. Sometimes, a person struggling with mental illness will become angry and distressed. Understand that this is the illness talking, rather than your family member or friend. Seek support for yourself, if you have been upset by this crisis.