When a mentally ill person is in crisis, the scenario is traumatic for the whole family. The crisis may result in the arrest of your mentally ill family member but this is not always the case. A crisis can also lead to self-harm.
Certain actions by a family member can help diffuse a difficult situation. Here are some important strategies.
1 Communicate clearly
Communication is essential in de-escalating a mental illness crisis. It’s important to give a mentally ill person in crisis your undivided attention. Don’t just listen. Use body language like eye contact to show you are comprehending the person with mental health issues. Talk slowly and remain calm. Therapists often seek to make suicidal clients “hold their story,” according to the National Alliance on Mental Health.
Therapist Larry Shushansky said:
“In sessions with suicidal clients, I often try to ‘hold their story,’ because I know that there are very few people in someone’s life who a person can talk to about suicide. Sometimes, just listening can be immensely helpful.”
Give your loved one an opportunity to discuss how they feel. Don’t be afraid to raise difficult questions such as whether they feel suicidal.
You should not use an anxious tone or be judgmental about a loved one’s feelings or they will clam up. Be concerned and caring and let your loved one know how you feel about them.
2 Call for Help
If you are unsuccessful in helping your loved one in their mental health crisis, you should reach out for a professional. If you believe the situation is a life-threatening emergency, call 911. Tell the operator your loved one suffers from mental health issues and request an officer with training in crisis intervention.
Other useful resources include the National Suicide Prevention Line where a trained crisis professional will talk to your family member. You can call 800-273-TALK (8255).
The National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) also provides trained crisis counselors. Text NAMI to 741-741.
You can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673).
3 Know the Signs
It can be difficult and intimidating to deal with someone who suffers a mental health crisis. If you are aware your relative suffers from mental health problems, you should learn about the potential signs of an impending problem.
Look out for deteriorations in your loved one’s behavior such as an inability to perform daily tasks like dressing, washing and cleaning their teeth.
Other signs a relative is heading for a crash include mood swings, pacing, agitation, aggressive behavior, and destructive behavior. A person heading for a crash may resort to substance abuse or self-harm such as cutting.
Paranoia and losing touch with reality are other signs of an approaching crisis.
If you have a family member or a close friend with a mental health condition, it’s vital to have a network of support you can call on 24-7 in the cases of a crisis.
If your loved one ends up being arrested, it’s important to be in contact with an Arizona attorney who helps defendants with mental health issues. Please contact Garcia Law as soon as possible at (602) 340-1999.
