(Excerpted from Navigating a Mental Health Crisis: A NAMI Resource Guide for Those Experiencing a Mental Health Emergency)
A crisis plan is a written plan developed by the person with the mental health condition and their support team, typically family and close friends. It’s designed to address symptoms and behaviors and help prepare for a crisis. Every plan is individualized, some common elements include:
♦ Person’s general information
♦ Family information
♦ Behaviors present before the crisis occurs, strategies and treatments that have worked in the past, a list of what actions or people that are likely to make the situation worse, a list of what helps calm the person or reduces symptoms
♦ Current medication(s) and dosages
♦ Current diagnoses
♦ History of suicide attempts, drug use or psychosis
♦ Treatment choices/preferences
♦ Local crisis lines
♦ Addresses and contact information for nearby crisis centers or emergency rooms
♦ Mobile crisis unit information, if there is one in the area
♦ Contact information for health care professionals (phone and email)
♦ Supports – adults the person has a trusting relationship with such as neighbors, friends, family members, favorite teacher or counselor at school, people at faith communities or work acquaintances
♦ Safety plans
The crisis plan is a collaboration between the person with the mental health condition and the family. Once developed, the plan should be shared by the person with involved family, friends and professionals. It should be updated whenever there is a change in diagnosis, medication, treatment or providers.
The more the person with the mental health condition and the family can work together to identify and understand what contributes to a crisis and what strategies helped, the more prepared you will be for a future crisis.
Helpful tips to remember:
♦ Create a safe environment by removing all weapons and sharp objects
♦ Lock up medications, both over-the-counter and prescription medications
♦ Discuss with others in the household about how to stay safe during a crisis
♦ Post the number of your county mental health crisis team
♦ Contact your local law enforcement and provide them with a copy of the crisis plan
Psychiatric Advance Directives (PAD) are legal documents that share a person’s specific instructions or preferences regarding future mental health treatment. PADs are used during
a psychiatric emergency if the person loses their capacity to give or withhold informed consent
to treatment. PADS can also include specific consent to communicate with family members, caregivers or friends during crisis situations. The National Resource Center on Psychiatric Advance Directives (NRC-PAD, https://nrc-pad.org) provides information for person with a mental health condition, family members, clinicians and policy makers interested in PADs. State laws vary on PADs. Learn more by asking your health care provider or your attorney for information about your state. Once you, or your loved one, have developed the advance directives, share it with the health care professionals involved in the treatment plan as well as concerned family members.
An Example Crisis Plan
The person with the mental health condition and the family should talk together and agree on the following parts of their plan:
How do we know the symptoms are returning?
List signs and symptoms of relapse:
- ______________________________________________
- ______________________________________________
- ______________________________________________
When the symptoms on line 1 appear, we will:
- __________________________________________
- __________________________________________
- __________________________________________
When the symptoms on line 2 appear, we will:
- __________________________________________
- __________________________________________
- __________________________________________
When the symptoms on line 3 appear, we will:
- __________________________________________
- __________________________________________
- __________________________________________
When will we think about going to the hospital? What type of behavior would make us consider doing this?
When will we think about calling 911? What type of behavior would make us consider doing this?
To view the document Navigating a Mental Health Crisis: A NAMI Resource Guide for Those Experiencing a Mental Health Emergency from which this article was excerpted, click here. The full document includes information about warning signs, , fact sheets, and help with record keeping.