Identifying a Mental Health Crisis: How to Know When Help Is Needed

If you are experiencing your darkest moments, know you are not alone. In 2021, 455,000 Ohioans had serious thoughts of suicide. Of those people who had thoughts, 106,000 made plans, 55,000 attempted, and 1,766 died by suicide. Every person who fell into these groups experienced a mental health crisis. Dying by suicide is preventable, so what can we do to help? 

At SUN Behavioral Health Columbus, we want to help you learn how you can identify a mental health crisis. This is the best way to protect yourself and those you love. Today, we are going to examine what a mental health crisis is and what to do if you or someone you love is experiencing one.

A mental health crisis is a highly overwhelming time that prevents someone from functioning or puts them in danger of harming themselves or another person. Someone experiencing a crisis may feel like they are alone and nobody understands what they are going through. This may include thoughts or plans of self-harm or suicide and extreme mental health symptoms, such as depression or anxiety. Often, if the person has coping skills that generally work, they are no longer as effective during a crisis. Attending a crisis care center allows people experiencing a crisis to interact with a professional who can help them achieve stabilization. 

Many people use the terms “mental health crisis” and “mental health emergency” interchangeably, but the two are different. During an emergency, the person may be actively trying to harm themselves or another person. They may also have a self-induced injury, like a bullet wound or poisoning, that requires medical care. If someone has a mental health emergency, 911 should be called immediately. 

Typically, it is a sign of worsening symptoms of a mental health condition. Common conditions that may cause a mental health crisis include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. Keep in mind that a mental health crisis is not limited to these conditions and may occur without someone being diagnosed with an official diagnosis. 

A mental health crisis can also happen for someone who is already in treatment or has things in place to prevent one from occurring, and experiencing a mental health crisis while or after treatment is not an indication that someone is unable to recover. All it means is adjustments to their treatment plan are necessary. Moving through different levels of care can be a regular part of the recovery process. 

Sometimes, mental health crises can appear out of nowhere when it comes to your loved ones. Often, this is because they might try to hide their circumstances to protect those they care about, or they may feel ashamed or afraid to mention that their mental health requires help. 

With that said, there can be some signs that you can notice that may indicate they need help and could be experiencing a mental health crisis. One of those behavioral changes you might see is that they may begin to isolate themselves from others or have sudden and intense changes in their mood, such as becoming extremely sad, anxious, agitated, or angry. 

As mentioned above, people who are having a mental health crisis will often begin to neglect their hygiene. This might include not brushing their teeth, showering, or spending multiple days in a row wearing the same clothes. If someone is having suicidal thoughts or plans, they may begin to give away their prized possessions. They might also start to get their affairs in order or write a will. 

Seeing any of these signs or behaviors, especially in combination, can indicate that they might need crisis care. Choose an appropriate time, gently address your concerns without judgment, and encourage them to attend treatment for a mental health disorder. 

Mental health crises can occur for a multitude of reasons, with many involving life circumstances. This can include scenarios such as divorce, losing a career, the passing of a loved one, and financial strain such as experiencing foreclosure or eviction. These events are already stressful, and when the person does not have a strong support system, a mental health crisis can develop. It is important to have people you can talk to during hardships to help relieve some of the stress and have support.

Teens also can have mental health crises from stressful situations. Bullying, divorce, death in the family, and pressure from school can all lead to a mental break. Talking with your teen can help them feel mentally safe during high-stress situations.

When someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, it is important to remain calm. The next steps are crucial in the process of seeking help and preventing injury. Let’s talk about what to do for a loved one experiencing a mental health crisis.

Remaining calm and talking to the person will help you better understand what is going on. Observe their behaviors and words. 

Are they acting erratically? Are they threatening to hurt themselves? These signs would show help is needed immediately through a crisis center or hotline. Are they crying and expressing their troubles? Are they not talking about suicide or hurting themselves? 

These are signs that the situation is more under control, but this does not mean help is not needed. By assessing the behaviors, you can form a plan to get the person the help they need.

There are many outlets to reach out for help for a loved one in a mental health crisis. 988 is the national mental health crisis and suicide hotline. Your loved one can call or text and give their zip code and will be connected to local resources. The line is open 24/7 and is free and confidential.

Hospitals can provide acute stabilization but are not always equipped to help mental health long-term. Crisis care centers have the ability to treat and stabilize the person and then help with long-term care. This can include entering residential treatment or an outpatient program. By ensuring your loved one continues care, you help them prevent another mental health crisis and begin to heal.

If your loved one is threatening to hurt you or is becoming combative, make sure to protect yourself. Call 911 for help and remove yourself from the situation. It can be difficult as you want to help your loved one, but staying will put you in harm's way and continue the agitation. Your loved one may even calm down in your absence.

Having crisis care accessible 24/7 is crucial to the safety of many community members. A recent study showed that people who have suicidal thoughts are 3 times more likely to die at night than they are during the day. Many places are not open in the evenings or at night when people need it the most. We are here for you. 

Our crisis care center is open in the morning, at night, and on weekends and holidays. If you are experiencing a crisis, come to our facility at 900 E Dublin Granville Rd, Columbus, OH, 43229, as soon as possible. You do not need to call us ahead of time. We are ready to help you through this and lead you to a brighter future. 

At SUN Behavioral Health Columbus, we solve unmet needs. We offer no-cost care assessments that ensure you receive the best treatment for your needs. These care assessments consider your symptoms and needs, your doctor’s recommendations, and any previous evaluations you have completed. For more information about our crisis care or care assessments, call us at 614-706-2786.

What should I do if I think I am having a mental health crisis?

If you are having a mental health crisis, go to a crisis care center as soon as possible. We have professionals who can help keep you safe and stabilize you. You do not need to call us ahead of time.

What’s the difference between a mental health emergency and a crisis?

A mental health emergency is a life-threatening circumstance that requires medical or law enforcement intervention. When a mental health emergency occurs, the person may be trying to harm themselves or another person actively, or they may need medical care due to self-injury. A mental health crisis, on the other hand, is not an immediate life-threatening circumstance. Calling 911 for a crisis is not necessary as the person may only be planning on harming themselves or others or has a self-injury that doesn’t require medical care.