How Families Can Help in a Mental Health Emergency
When an individual is at risk of self-harm or harm to others
or is experiencing mental or physical deterioration, families should take the
following steps:
-
speak calmly to the person experiencing distress, reassure
the person that he or she doesn't have to face the crisis alone
-
try to lessen the fear surrounding the experience of the
illness and potential treatment
-
call the local hospital emergency, crisis line, mental
health centre or family physician
-
identify a person with whom your relative has a trusting
relationship, and attempt to work through that person
-
call the police as a last resort in life or death situations
or if none of the other options are available to you.
Important Information
Families should be prepared to provide the following
information to the police, physician, hospital, and mental health team either
by telephone or upon arrival:
-
What has
happened? What is happening now?
-
Identity
and date of birth of the person who is experiencing distress?
-
Is your relative being prescribed any medication? Has he/she
been taking the medication? What is it?
-
Has your
relative been taking street drugs or alcohol?
-
Does
your relative have access to firearms or other weapons?
-
Does the person have a previous history of attempted suicide
or violence?
-
Have the
police been called to the residence before?
-
Name of the family doctor and telephone number? Can he or
she be reached for consultation?
-
Does the person have a therapist? If so, can the therapist
be contacted?
-
Is
your relative involved with the local mental health centre? If so, who is the
contact person?