Mental health emergencies can develop suddenly and without warning, leaving families feeling helpless and unsure how to respond appropriately. Unlike physical medical emergencies where the steps are often clear—call 911, provide first aid, get to a hospital—mental health crises can be more ambiguous and frightening for family members who want to help but don’t know how. Having a mental health emergency plan in place before a crisis occurs can make the difference between a situation that escalates dangerously and one that is managed safely and effectively.
At Destination Hope, we’ve seen how families who are prepared for mental health emergencies are better able to support their loved ones during crisis periods and help them access appropriate care quickly. Emergency planning isn’t about expecting the worst—it’s about being prepared to respond helpfully when someone you love is struggling with their mental health.
Recognizing Mental Health Emergency Warning Signs
Understanding the difference between typical mental health symptoms and emergency warning signs is crucial for families. While each person’s experience with mental health conditions is unique, certain signs consistently indicate the need for immediate professional intervention.
Expressions of suicidal thoughts or intent represent the most obvious mental health emergency. However, suicidal ideation can range from vague statements about not wanting to be alive to specific plans for self-harm. Family members should take any mention of suicide seriously, even if it seems like manipulation or attention-seeking behavior. The risk is too great to dismiss these statements.
Psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations, delusions, or severe disconnection from reality, also constitute mental health emergencies. Someone experiencing psychosis may see or hear things that aren’t there, believe things that aren’t true, or become convinced that others are trying to harm them. These symptoms can be terrifying for both the person experiencing them and their family members.
Severe agitation or aggressive behavior that poses a risk to the person or others requires immediate intervention. This might include threats of violence, throwing objects, or behavior that suggests the person has lost control of their actions. Substance use can complicate these situations and increase the risk of dangerous behavior.
Complete inability to care for oneself, such as refusing to eat, drink, or attend to basic hygiene for extended periods, may also constitute an emergency situation, particularly if the person appears disconnected from reality or unable to understand the consequences of their actions.
Creating a Mental Health Emergency Action Plan
An effective mental health emergency plan should be developed during stable periods when everyone can think clearly and participate in planning. The plan should include specific steps for different types of emergencies and contact information for all relevant resources.
Start by identifying the warning signs that are specific to your family member’s mental health condition. Someone with bipolar disorder might show signs of mania before becoming severely agitated, while someone with depression might withdraw completely before expressing suicidal thoughts. Understanding these patterns can help families intervene earlier in the crisis cycle.
The plan should include contact information for your family member’s regular mental health providers, including therapists, psychiatrists, and case managers. It should also include information about local emergency services, including hospital emergency departments, crisis intervention teams, and mobile crisis services available in your area.
Document your family member’s current medications, diagnoses, and any previous psychiatric hospitalizations. This information can be crucial for emergency responders or hospital staff who need to make quick decisions about treatment. Keep this information easily accessible and updated regularly.
Understanding Your Options During a Crisis
When a mental health emergency occurs, families have several options for getting help, and the best choice depends on the specific circumstances and severity of the situation. Understanding these options in advance helps families make better decisions during stressful crisis periods.
For immediate safety concerns, including active suicidal behavior or threats of violence, calling 911 may be necessary. However, it’s important to specifically mention that you’re dealing with a mental health emergency when calling, as this can help ensure that responding officers are prepared to handle the situation appropriately.
Many communities now have specialized crisis intervention teams that include mental health professionals trained to respond to psychiatric emergencies. These teams can often de-escalate situations more effectively than traditional emergency responders and may be able to connect individuals to mental health services rather than involving law enforcement.
Mobile crisis services provide mental health professionals who can come to your home to assess the situation and provide immediate support. These services can be particularly valuable when someone is in crisis but not necessarily in immediate physical danger.
Hospital emergency departments can provide safety and assessment during mental health crises, though the experience can be lengthy and sometimes traumatic. Emergency departments are equipped to handle immediate safety concerns and can arrange for psychiatric evaluation and hospitalization if necessary.
Working with Emergency Responders
When emergency responders are involved in a mental health crisis, family members can play an important role in helping ensure the situation is handled appropriately. Provide clear, factual information about what’s happening and what you’ve observed. Mention any diagnoses, medications, and previous mental health treatment.
Stay calm and follow the instructions of emergency responders, even if you disagree with their approach. Arguing or becoming agitated can escalate the situation and make it more difficult for everyone involved. You can advocate for your family member while still cooperating with emergency responders.
If possible, designate one family member to communicate with emergency responders while others provide emotional support or manage practical concerns like caring for other family members or securing the home.
Navigating Psychiatric Hospitalization
When psychiatric hospitalization becomes necessary, families often feel overwhelmed by the process and uncertain about their role. Understanding your rights and responsibilities during psychiatric hospitalization can help you advocate effectively for your family member’s care.
Psychiatric hospitalization can be voluntary or involuntary, depending on the circumstances and the person’s willingness to accept treatment. Involuntary hospitalization, sometimes called a psychiatric hold, can be initiated when someone poses a danger to themselves or others due to mental illness.
During hospitalization, families can provide important information about their loved one’s history, preferences, and support systems. However, confidentiality laws may limit what information hospital staff can share with family members unless the patient has given permission or certain conditions are met.
Supporting Recovery After a Crisis
Once the immediate crisis has passed, families play a crucial role in supporting their loved one’s recovery and helping prevent future emergencies. This often involves following up with outpatient mental health providers, ensuring medication compliance, and helping monitor for early warning signs of another crisis.
It’s important for families to process their own experiences during the crisis. Mental health emergencies are traumatic for everyone involved, and family members may need their own support and counseling to recover from the experience.
Review and update your emergency plan based on what you learned during the crisis. What worked well? What could be improved? How can you better prepare for similar situations in the future?
Destination Hope’s Crisis Support and Prevention
At Destination Hope, we work with families to develop comprehensive crisis prevention plans as part of our treatment approach. We help identify individual warning signs, create safety plans, and connect families with local crisis resources they can access when needed.
Our treatment planning includes specific attention to crisis prevention and management. We work with clients to develop coping skills for managing intense symptoms and help families understand how to provide appropriate support without enabling or escalating problematic behaviors.
We also provide ongoing support through our aftercare program, helping families navigate challenges that arise after formal treatment ends. Our case managers are available to provide guidance during difficult periods and can help families access additional resources when needed.
Building a Support Network
Emergency planning should extend beyond immediate family to include friends, neighbors, and community members who can provide support during crisis periods. This might include people who can help with childcare, transportation, or other practical needs while you’re dealing with a mental health emergency.
Connect with local support groups for families dealing with mental health challenges. These groups can provide valuable resources and emotional support, and members often share information about crisis services and effective strategies for managing emergencies.
Consider involving your family member’s school, workplace, or other regular environments in safety planning when appropriate. Teachers, supervisors, and other regular contacts can often identify early warning signs and provide additional support during difficult periods.
Mental health emergencies are frightening experiences, but they don’t have to leave families feeling helpless and unprepared. With proper planning, education, and support, families can respond effectively to mental health crises and help their loved ones access the care they need. At Destination Hope, we’re committed to helping families develop the knowledge and skills they need to navigate mental health challenges safely and effectively. Contact us at (954) 302-4269 to learn more about our crisis prevention planning and family support services.
