Learn What to Do in a Mental Health Crisis
Like any other health crisis, it’s important to act quickly and effectively in a mental health crisis. With mental health conditions, it can be difficult to predict a crisis. A crisis can occur even when treatment plans are followed and mental health professionals are involved. Unfortunately, unpredictability is the nature of mental illness – and unlike other mental health emergencies, people experiencing a mental health crisis don’t always receive information about what to expect after the immediate crisis ends.
That’s why NAMI created this guide, so people experiencing mental health emergencies and their loved ones have the information and answers they need – when they need it. In the pages of “Navigating a Mental Health Crisis,” you’ll find:
- Information about mental illness and mental health crises
- Advice for what to do during a crisis
- Guidance on admission for treatment, what to expect from treatment, family involvement, and discharge planning
- Tips on caring for yourself as a caregiver
- Practical steps to prepare for a future crisis, including fillable forms for a Portable Treatment Record, Crisis Plan, and Relapse Plan
NAMI developed this guide to provide important,
sometimes lifesaving, information to people
experiencing mental health crises, their friends, and
their families. The guide outlines what can contribute to a crisis, warning
signs that a crisis is emerging, strategies to help de-escalate a crisis, and
resources that may be available for those affected. It also discusses what to
consider when advocating for other concerns, including individual and family
rights, safety, and personal agency in a crisis.
In this guide, we use the term “mental health
condition” to refer to a variety of mental illnesses,
including, but not limited to, schizophrenia,
schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, depressive
disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder. These
conditions may affect a person’s thinking, feeling,
behavior, or mood. They may also deeply impact
day-to-day living and a person’s ability to relate to
others.
Learning that someone you love has a mental
health condition may bring on many different
thoughts and feelings. People experiencing
symptoms that interfere with their life and ability
to function, and those who care for them, need
information. However, that information is not always
readily available, and the search for answers may
require more energy and persistence than what we
have available in times of crisis.
