How to Handle a Mental Health Emergency

A psychiatric crisis may include inappropriate or disturbed behavior and emotions, hallucinations, delusions and/or thought disorders. Crises such as these are terrifying for the mentally ill person and for those near him. Medical help is essential and hospitalization may be necessary if the crisis is serious enough. Until help arrives, try to remain calm, provide a reassuring presence and offer to help the person feel safe.

Things You'll Need

• Emergency phone numbers
• Contact info for mental health providers

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Instructions

Reponding to a Psychiatric Crisis

• 1

  Determine if anyone--including the person having the crisis, you, or a bystander--is in danger. If you feel threatened, leave and summon help. If you feel the person may harm himself, use a calm, neutral voice to reassure him that you care and that help and relief is possible. Don't leave the person alone. If you can get the person to go with you to see a mental health professional or to an emergency room, do so. If he refuses, call 911 and explain that someone is threatening, or has attempted, suicide, if that's the case.

• 2

  Have a plan ready if someone threatens you or becomes highly agitated. Don't attempt to touch the person. Know exactly how you can get away and summon help if the situation becomes uncontrollable. Keep the phone number of a reliable mental health professional programmed into your phone. Don't stop trying to get help until you succeed.

  Explain the person's diagnosis, medical history and special needs to the emergency responders. Explain to the person who the emergency responders are, why you called them, and what they will do.

• 3

  If no physical threat exists, try to identify the problem the person is having. The National Alliance on Mental Illness Massachusetts suggests using simple, short sentences delivered softly in a calm voice to determine if the person is reacting to hallucinations or delusions to something someone said or did or to a recent event that reminds her of a past trauma. Reassure the person based on what you can find out about the cause of her stress. Explain the negative consequences of not getting the situation under control and how they can be avoided by getting help. Report any threats to third parties to mental health professionals and the police, if warranted. Be sure to follow up on any understandings, promises or suggestions that come out of the conversation.

• 4

  If the person withdraws completely, be reassuring and contact mental health authorities. Don't leave the person alone; stay with her in a quiet, safe place. Using simple, short sentences, tell the person that you will not abandon her, that you care about her and that you are available to help. Don't expect or ask the person to respond to you; just offer reassurance. Contact the person's doctor or other mental health care worker.

• 5

  Don't respond to bizarre or inappropriate behavior or language if the person begins to act strangely. Keep your distance, remain calm, try to appear neutral and explain that the behavior is not acceptable. Encourage the person to move to a secluded spot when she is ready so she can calm down privately. Provide quiet support during this time. If the person cannot calm down, contact someone who can help, such as a mental health professional or emergency services.