What to Do in a Mental Health Crisis

If You Are in Crisis, Seek Help Immediately!

Someone experiencing a mental health crisis requires immediate help. Information is the most important component in dealing with a mental health crisis, but people often do not know where to turn. If you or someone else are experiencing a mental health crisis, you can:

• Call 911.
• Call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, a 24-hour, toll-free crisis hotline. You can call or text 988, or chat with a trained crisis counselor at 988lifeline.org.²
• Contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.²
• Text your zip code to 898-211 to find immediate help in your area.³

Go to the nearest hospital emergency room, or take a willing loved one there.⁴  In some cases, involuntary hospitalization may be an option if the individual is deemed to be a danger to themselves or others.⁵

Signs of a Mental Health Crisis

Mental health crises look different for different individuals, depending on the diagnosis and other factors, but may be preceded by warning signs. In general, changes in behavior–sudden or gradual–may indicate a mental health crisis, including:^1,6,7

• Neglect of personal hygiene.
• Dramatic changes in sleep patterns–whether that means sleeping too much or not sleeping much at all.
• A decline in performance at work or school.
• Pronounced changes in mood, such as irritability, anger, anxiety, or sadness.
• The inability to sit still.
• Withdrawal from routine activities or relationships.
• Misusing drugs or alcohol.
• Paranoia.

It’s important to note how long these changes in daily functioning and behavior have lasted to pass on to a healthcare professional.

How to Handle a Mental Health Crisis

What you do during a mental health crisis depends on the nature and urgency of the crisis. Here are some things you can do and/or consider:^1,7,8

Evaluate the situation and ask yourself a few key questions: Is the individual in danger of harming themselves, someone else, or property? If the answer is yes, call 911.

If there’s no risk of harm, It’s important to empathize and connect with the person’s feelings, stay calm, and try to de-escalate the crisis. 

• Avoid overreacting, listen, and express support and concern.
• Ask how you can help.
• Keep stimulation levels low.
• Offer suggestions and options instead of taking control.
• Avoid touching them unless you ask permission.
• Be patient.
• Give them space; avoid making them feel trapped.
• Don’t make judgemental comments.
• Don’t argue or try to reason with the person.
• Take care of yourself. Give yourself some space from the situation and take a walk, call a friend or loved one, or do something else that relaxes you.
• Seek professional help.

Finding the Help You Need

Getting professional help is the best way to address the mental health problem and learn the skills to help you or your loved one manage it beyond the crisis.⁷

If you’re ready to get help but aren’t sure where to start, there are several options, including:^2,4,8

• Talking to your doctor. Discuss your concerns with your primary care physician or mental healthcare provider, both of whom can discuss appropriate types of treatment for your needs.
• Finding a therapist or clinic near you. If you don’t see a therapist or other mental healthcare professional already, you can ask your primary care physician for a referral, or find a mental health treatment center using the FindTreatment.gov treatment locator.
• Reaching out to others for help. Talk to trusted family and friends, or call a helpline such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness’s (NAMI) HelpLine at 1-800-950-6264.
• Contacting American Addiction Centers (AAC). Starting this fall, AAC will begin offering a primary mental health treatment program at the River Oaks Treatment Facility near Tampa, Florida. The residential program is designed to promote stabilization and prevent future crises for those with significant psychiatric disorders, including depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and personality disorders, independent of any substance use. If you’re ready to seek treatment or want more information on the program, call .