What to Do in a Mental Health Crisis What to Do in a Mental Health Crisis

What happens when the storm inside you becomes too much to bear? There are moments in a person’s mental health journey that can feel deeply frightening and overwhelming. You might be experiencing intense thoughts of ending your life, an irresistible urge to harm yourself, or a feeling that you are losing touch with reality. This is a mental health crisis, and it is a medical emergency.

At Televero Health, we want every single one of our patients to know that in these moments, you are not alone and there is immediate, effective help available. Knowing what to do and who to call when you are in a crisis can be a literal lifeline. Having a clear safety plan is one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself.

What Is a Mental Health Crisis?

A mental health crisis is any situation in which a person’s thoughts, feelings, or behaviors put them at risk of harming themselves or others, or prevent them from being able to care for themselves. This is not just a “bad day.” It is a point where you feel you can no longer cope safely on your own. A crisis can include:

  • Thinking about or planning to kill yourself.
  • An intense urge to engage in self-harming behaviors, like cutting or burning.
  • Experiencing psychosis, such as hearing voices (auditory hallucinations) or believing things that are not true (delusions), that is causing you severe distress.
  • Feeling so overwhelmed by your symptoms that you are unable to perform basic daily functions like eating or getting out of bed.

If you are experiencing any of these things, it is essential that you treat it as an emergency and reach out for help immediately.

Your Immediate Action Plan

In a moment of crisis, it can be hard to think clearly. That’s why having a simple, pre-planned set of steps is so important. This is your safety plan.

Step 1: Reach Out for Immediate Help.

Your first and most important step is to connect with someone who can help you right now. The fastest and most accessible way to do this is to use a crisis line.

  • Call or Text 988: The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a national network of crisis centers that is available 24/7, for free, and is completely confidential. When you call or text 988, you will be connected with a trained crisis counselor in your area. They will listen to you without judgment, help you to feel less overwhelmed, and work with you to figure out the next steps to stay safe.
  • Use the Crisis Text Line: You can also text the word HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor via text message.

Step 2: Try to Create a Safe Space.

While you are waiting to connect with help, or while you are talking to them, try to make your immediate environment safer. If you are thinking about suicide, this means putting some time and distance between yourself and anything you might use to harm yourself. This is called “means restriction.” You could give your medications to a trusted person, or ask a friend or family member to come over and be with you so you are not alone.

Step 3: Contact Your Support System.

If you feel able, reach out to a trusted person in your support system. This could be a family member, a partner, or a close friend. You don’t have to go into detail if you don’t want to. You can simply say, “I’m having a really hard time right now and I need someone to talk to,” or “I’m not feeling safe and I need you to come and be with me.”

Step 4: Contact Your Provider.

During business hours, you should also contact your psychiatrist’s office to let them know you are in a crisis. They can provide guidance and schedule an urgent appointment for you. However, you should not wait to hear back from them before you take other steps. Your immediate safety is the priority, so use a crisis line first.

Step 5: Go to the Emergency Room if Necessary.

If you feel you are in immediate danger of acting on suicidal thoughts, or if a crisis line counselor recommends it, you should go to your local hospital’s emergency room or call 911. The emergency room is equipped to handle psychiatric emergencies and can provide a safe environment and an immediate evaluation to get you stabilized.

A mental health crisis is terrifying, but it is also temporary. There is help available, and there is a path through it. Please, do not wait. Reach out. Your life is valuable, and you deserve to be safe.

Key Takeaways

  • A mental health crisis, such as having suicidal thoughts, is a medical emergency that requires immediate help.
  • The fastest way to get help is to call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which is free, confidential, and available 24/7.
  • Your safety plan should also include reaching out to your personal support system and your mental health provider.
  • If you are in immediate danger of harming yourself, go to the nearest emergency room or call 911.

Ready to take the first step? We can help. Get started with Televero Health today.

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