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What
is a crisis situation?
A “crisis” situation is happening if a person
with mental illness is:
-
A danger to themselves
-
if other people are in danger
-
if their symptoms are escalating and their behavior is becoming
out of control or dangerous
How
should a crisis be handled?
When a crisis occurs, it is usually not expected. It is important
to be prepared for the unexpected; to have a plan in place.
Create a list of important phone numbers and information.
Keep it somewhere accessible; next to the phone, in your wallet,
etc. Include the following information:
-
your local
crisis services phone number and local ER phone number
-
the name and phone number of the person’s psychiatrist
and psychologist
-
a list of the person’s medications (the names and
dosage information)
-
the person’s diagnosis and, if possible, treatment
history
-
the name of a friend or family member that may be of assistance
-
the number for you local NAMI-NYS affiliate
-
the number for the local police department
It
is helpful to speak to a local mental health worker or local
NAMI-NYS affiliate member ahead of time, so if services are
needed you know what to expect and how to obtain them.
What
services will crisis provide and how do crisis services “work”?
Most counties in New York state have 24-hour staff coverage
for crisis intervention and an emergency telephone number
from which services are available. The comprehensiveness of
services provided from area to area vary, but nevertheless
are an important point of contact in a crisis situation. These
services should respond to any call for help, to conduct an
evaluation and help stabilize the ill person, and provide
information and comfort to family members and friends who
are involved in the crisis situation.
In
emergencies, local law enforcement agencies may also play
an important role in obtaining mental health care. In the
event of a crisis, crisis services may send an individual
to evaluate the situation. That person is usually trained
to conduct an evaluation for presence of serious mental illness
and assess the level of dangerousness, if any. Often if the
crisis worker comes to a private home or apartment to conduct
an evaluation, they will bring a police officer with them
for their own safety, and for the safety and protection of
other people at the crisis scene. Normally the police officer
is not present to arrest the ill person, unless an illegal
act has been committed. However, law enforcement procedures
commonly require police officers to transport the mentally
ill person in a police cruiser to a hospital.
Plan
Ahead: If you sense a deterioration in your friend
or relative's mental condition, contact their doctor,
case manager, or social worker. If this is not possible
or these people do not exist in their life, call the NAMI-NYS
office, local NAMI-NYS affiliate,
or local
mental health clinic for advice and information. If
it should become necessary to call the crisis emergency
telephone number or the police, have written information
available about the ill person's diagnosis, medications,
and specific behavior that precipitated the crisis. It
may be useful to have several copies to give to the crisis
intervention workers and the ER workers.
For
more in-depth information on mental health crisis or getting
help; please choose below:
Preventing Suicide | Where
to Call
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