Crisis Intervention
Having a 3-digit number like 988 makes it easier and less stigmatizing to ask for help. It sends the message that a mental health crisis is a legitimate health emergency like other kinds of emergencies. And most importantly, it connects the individual to someone who can provide clinical assessment and intervention - Margie Balfour MD PhD
image by: Fred S. Martin
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Answering the Call, Part 1: America’s New Mental Health Crisis Line
For decades, 911 has been America’s best known number for people in crisis, from heart attacks to homicides to house fires. But for people in the midst of mental health emergencies, dialing those three digits can be dangerous — even deadly. That’s especially true for people of color, who are already more likely to be killed by police.
Without a safe, easy way to get immediate help during a mental health crisis, many people go without it. Research shows failing to properly care for people in crisis can drive up avoidable spending on health care and incarceration — and even cost people their lives.
In October 2020, Congress created 988, a new three-digit number that anyone…
Resources
National Helpline
The service is open 24/7, 365 days a year.
As a Crisis Hotline Grows, So Do Fears It Won’t Be Ready
Envisioned as the 911 for mental health, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline will soon be 988, with more services for more callers. But it’s already straining to meet demand.
Implementing The 988 Hotline: A Critical Window To Decriminalize Mental Health
Mental health in the US is in crisis. Suicide rates have increased over the past decade. Pediatric and adult emergency department visits for suicide attempts have substantially increased since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Less than half of adults with mental illness are receiving treatment, and the demand for inpatient psychiatric care consistently and significantly exceeds supply. This July, the US model for responding to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis is scheduled for a much-needed change. The 988 number is a three-digit, national mental health crisis hotline that was mandated by the federal government in October 2020 with an official nationwide start date on July 16, 2022.
People in mental health crises need help, not handcuffs
A mental health crisis can be a frightening thing to the individual experiencing it as well as to people witnessing it. Those in its throes need help, but all too often get handcuffs. We have seen that scenario play out from the inside and the outside. It’s time for it to change.
How mental-health crisis centers have tried to weather the COVID-19 storm
For crisis centers like the Trevor Project, the coronavirus pandemic and recent political upheaval have proved to be major challenges for counselors and volunteers. The Trevor Project, like other organizations, had to scramble in March to ensure their employees could work from home. But given the nature of the nonprofit’s work, the stakes were much higher if its systems went offline.
How the pandemic forced mental health care to change for the better
Teletherapy is the future of mental health services. But it won’t be enough to solve America’s mental health crisis.
Mental Health And Police Violence: How Crisis Intervention Teams Are Failing
Nationwide protests over police accountability and racial justice have reenergized longstanding efforts to fundamentally change how police departments respond to someone in a mental health emergency. Many are calling for removing or dramatically reducing law enforcement's role in responding to those crisis calls unless absolutely necessary.
Mental health ‘first aid’ can give bystanders the skills to act in a crisis
Training has gone virtual during the pandemic, and it's more popular than ever.
Police Are the First to Respond to Mental Health Crises. They Shouldn’t Be
"This is the only medical illness that we use criminal justice to respond.
This Crisis Team Has Handled Mental Health Calls Without Cops for 30 Years
While the centre has gained a solid reputation within health and legal circles in the 30 years since it opened, it’s largely flown under the radar. Those who work there haven’t spoken with journalists much before, but they are doing so now as debates over defunding the police and reimagining responses to mental health crises are taking place around the world.
What to Do If Your Child Is in Crisis
Recognizing that your child is experiencing a mental health crisis can be difficult. You may not be sure what constitutes a crisis situation versus a “bad day” or “phase.” You may feel scared — perhaps you feel unsure of how to protect your child.
Answering the Call, Part 1: America’s New Mental Health Crisis Line
Starting July 16, 2022, anyone in the U.S. experiencing a mental health crisis will be able to dial 988 for help. We explore what it will take for this new nationwide hotline to meet the needs of millions of people struggling with suicide, addiction and mental illness.
StatPearls
Crisis intervention is a short-term management technique designed to reduce potential permanent damage to an individual affected by a crisis. A crisis is defined as an overwhelming event, which can include divorce, violence, the passing of a loved one, or the discovery of a serious illness.
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