The following tips were taken from various sources, including "Navigating a mental health crisis"
published by the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
To read the entire document from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, please
click here.
When you learn that someone you love has a mental health condition, it can be a frightening time. It's not just the people experiencing episodes of mental illness who need information, it is the people that care for them. The challenge is that information is not always easily accessible, and the search for answers may require more persistence and energy than what we have available, especially in times of crisis.
The potential for a crisis is never far from mind when a mental health condition is present. If you are reading this, you or someone you care for may likely be experiencing symptoms of a mental health challenge.
Crisis periods related to mental illness often feel overwhelming. After the initial shock, there is typically a flood of questions.
It is normal to feel confused, overwhelmed, or experience guilt, grief, or anger. In these times it is often helpful to remember that we are all doing the best that we can with the resources and information we have available to us.
Like any other health issue, we must address a mental health emergency quickly and effectively.
Because there are often no warning signs, a mental health emergency can be challenging to predict. Even when treatment plans have been followed, and mental health professionals are actively involved, crises can occur.
It is unfortunate, but unpredictability is the nature of mental illness.
Unlike other health crises, people experiencing mental health emergencies often don't receive instructions or materials on what to expect. It is also not unusual for law enforcement personnel instead of medical staff to be the first involved since substance use and behavioral challenges are frequently part of the difficulties associated with mental illness.
Mental illnesses are medical conditions that disrupt a person's thinking, mood, daily functioning, feeling, and ability to relate to others. A person's character or intelligence has nothing to do with their ability to avoid mental illness. We all can understand that diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas. In the same way, mental illness is a disorder of the brain that can make it challenging to cope with the regular demands of life. The person, the family, and their friends are not to blame for mental illness.
Unlike many other health conditions, there are no blood tests that can positively diagnose mental illnesses. Diagnosis are based on clinical observations of behavior in the person and reports from those close to the person. With a ride range of mental illnesses, symptoms vary significantly from one person to another. The most common mental illness diagnoses include anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, depressive disorder, and schizophrenia, but there are many others.
Symptoms of mental illness can be similar and can overlap, especially in times of crisis, regardless of the diagnosis. Signs that you may have noticed in yourself or your loved one include:
A mental health crisis can be any situation in which a person's behavior prevents them from being able to care for themselves or function effectively in the community or puts them at risk of hurting themselves or others. While many things can lead to a mental health crisis, some examples include:
When a mental health crisis is developing, it's essential to know that warning signs are not always present. Clues that a mental health crisis is developing include:
It's important to be aware of how long the changes in personality or daily functioning have been occurring and how much difficulty they're causing. This level of detail can be necessary for the health care professional to know.
For people with mental health conditions and those who love them, the risk of suicide is a significant concern. Encouraging someone to get help is the first step towards safety.
Feeling overwhelming emotional pain, frustration, loneliness, hopelessness, powerlessness, worthlessness, shame, guilt, rage, or self-hatred is all common in people who attempt suicide. The social isolation that often happens in the lives of those with mental illness can reinforce the belief that no one cares if they live or die.
Any talk of suicide should always be taken seriously. Most people who attempt suicide have given some warning—but this isn't always the case. The risk is even higher if someone has attempted suicide before.
If you are concerned someone is thinking about suicide or if you notice any of the above warning signs, don't be afraid to talk to them about it. You can start the conversation.
Open the conversation by sharing specific things you have noticed, including: "I've noticed lately that you [aren't interested in sports anymore, which you used to love, haven't been sleeping, and are posting a lot of sad song lyrics online, etc.] …"
Please remember, a suicide threat or attempt is a medical emergency requiring professional help as quickly as possible.
To read the entire document from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, visit: https://www.nami.org/About-NAMI/Publications-Reports/Guides/Navigating-a-Mental-Health-Crisis/Navigating-A-Mental-Health-Crisis.pdf
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