Knowing if your loved one is experiencing a mental health crisis can be difficult. There’s no single cause, and the signs vary for everyone. But someone who is in the midst of a mental health crisis is, in general, experiencing extreme distress to the point where they are not able to function in their daily lives.
Signs of a crisis vary from person to person, but if you notice that someone you care about is exhibiting the following behaviors, they may need support:
- Difficulty or inability to complete daily tasks
- Mood swings or outbursts
- Withdrawal or isolation
- Difficulty keeping up with personal hygiene
- Losing interest in things they usually enjoy
- Feelings of hopelessness or intense sadness
- Panic attacks
- Having thoughts of harming themselves or others
“The circumstances that get people to a point of crisis can vary because we all have different resiliency levels and abilities to deal with setbacks or unplanned stressors,” says Kevin Curtis, LCSW, a licensed clinical social worker at University of Utah Health’s Huntsman Mental Health Institute (HMHI). “Whenever someone is in a place mentally where they feel like they’re at a breaking point or they just can’t do it anymore, we want them to get help and support.”
Mental Health Crisis Care or the Emergency Room?
If it’s determined that you or a loved one are experiencing a mental health crisis and need professional help, knowing which facility is most appropriate for your circumstances is important.
When to Go to a Mental Health Crisis Care Center
If you’re in need of urgent help but are not physically hurt or in danger, a mental health crisis care center can provide specialized support with trained mental health professionals, such as licensed psychiatrists, social workers, and advanced practice nurses. Many centers offer intensive outpatient treatment, as well as overnight inpatient care.
Services you can expect to find at mental health crisis care centers include:
- Psychiatric assessment and basic medical screening
- Crisis management therapy
- Medication management
- Recovery and discharge planning
- Help with addressing legal issues
- Connections to community resources and programs such as Medicaid
- Referrals to medical partnerships to address any unmet medical or dental needs
“A crisis center is really designed to be flexible and focus on working with the person to come up with the best care pathway for them,” Curtis says. “The vast majority of people come in, receive support, and report feeling better. Then, we’re able to get them back out with connections that can continue to help them.”
When to Go to the Emergency Room
Going to a mental health crisis care center can help reduce some of the patient load that causes emergency rooms to get backed up. However, there are a few instances when the emergency room is more appropriate for a mental health crisis, including:
- During a drug overdose
- When the person is already physically hurt
Being a Support System
Support from loved ones can be critical when waiting to receive professional care. When someone is in crisis, avoid providing silver linings or solutions. Instead, validate the person’s feelings and experiences by simply telling them you are there for them. You can also encourage your loved one to call 988, a free, confidential crisis line staffed with trained mental health specialists 24/7 to help folks work through suicidal thoughts, substance use issues, and other mental health concerns.
“It’s not a terrible thing to sit with a person in silence and provide a space for them to just feel their feelings and feel like they’re loved by someone,” Curtis says. “I also really encourage people to use the 988 crisis line number, because that doesn’t just exist for the person in crisis. They can help family members make decisions about what the next steps should be.”
While emergency rooms and crisis centers can both provide care for someone in crisis, the emergency room is most suitable for people who have experienced an acute medical emergency or are at risk of one. For urgent, specialized mental health care, a crisis center is the better option.
