There are more and more people you know and love who are going through rough patches in their lives; sometimes, you go through the same thing; often, the people you love and care for are developing a mental health crisis. To be ready for this, you should probably learn a thing or two about the forms of intervention you can do for them.
Like in any other medical emergency, health professionals perform first aid -or in this case, mental health first aid. You can do this for the people you love to try and lessen the mental health crisis they are going through. You do this intervention until your loved one receives the proper and professional help they need.
Mental Health Crisis
Mental health is a mishmash of your emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how you feel, think, and even how you act. Your mental health also affects how you relate with others, handle stress, and make decisions. Individuals who manage their mental health well can cope with the pressures of life while still being productive in and outside of work and create worthwhile contributions to society.
On the other hand, individuals battling mental health may suffer from a mental illness. A mental illness is a common health condition that includes changes in emotions, behavior, and thought patterns.
More prevalent in adults, but children can also develop mental health issues. Mental health conditions that affect young adults, even children, include:
- ADHD or Attention Deficient/Hyperactivity Disorder
- Anxiety Disorders
- ASD or Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Eating Disorders
- Mood Disorders
- Schizophrenia
A mental health crisis is any position in which your behavior puts you at risk of hurting yourself or others and prevents you from being able to care for yourself or function effectively in the community. During a crisis, suicidal thoughts can occur in both adults and children.
There is a need for everyone —not just the healthcare professionals —to understand the warning signs, risk factors, and interventions that can help others survive a mental health crisis episode. A mental health crisis can be any of the following:
- suicidal thoughts and behaviors
- non-suicidal self-injury (sometimes called deliberate self-harm)
- panic attacks
- traumatic events
- severe psychotic states
- severe effects from alcohol or other drug use
- aggressive behaviors.
Someone you know might be experiencing a mental health problem, and early intervention can lead to better outcomes!
5 Intervention Steps For A Mental Health Crisis
Any mental health crisis can potentially affect anyone, which may cause them to harm themselves. That is why crisis intervention is needed, as it can mitigate those risks.
Psychological crisis intervention is essential to prevent traumatized victims from developing any illnesses, such as healthcare workers who were bombarded during the pandemic. Are their coping mechanisms effective?
Using emotional support, humor, planning, and even as simple as acceptance correlates with superior mental health outcomes compared to substance abuse and denial. Positive coping mechanisms are reported to be effective in crisis management, and with crisis intervention services in place, people will be better equipped to handle unexpected events in their lives.
Here are five intervention steps you need to know:
- 1. Know the signs
Even if you are not a professional, you can surely be aware of the sudden changes in a person’s mood and personality, energy, behavior, and personality. This is important since this could very well be a sign of a mental health problem.
- 2. Approach the person
This step could be very awkward or challenging in the beginning but is proven to be a great start. Initiate the conversation; be honest and open about your concerns about their mental well-being. Empathize and be understanding and less judgemental. If they do not want to talk with you, ask them to speak to someone else that they can trust.
- 3. Be supportive
As mentioned above, do not be judgemental. Encourage them to talk, listen well, and give them hope. These talks might be the needed inspiration for them to get help or start talking about their concerns with their mental health. These conversations are needed, but being tackless will not be helpful.
- 4. Know what’s not helpful
Do not be condescending or dismissive; because sometimes, you can make matters worse even with the best intentions. Be kind if you start talking to someone you suspect might have a mental health concern.
- 5. Encourage someone to seek help for a mental health problem
If the person you love and care for needs helps to manage their feelings, help them. Have reliable sources of information that you can give them. They can even start with their GP. And then encourage them to do something about the options they were given.
If they do not need help, ask them why —they may have some misguided beliefs about their options. Try helping them feel better about getting help.
And if they still can’t accept help, tell them that your doors are open for them if they change their mind. Respect their wishes.
The stigma around mental health or mental illness should be deconstructed so that people will not shy away from any help they can partake in.
Communicating and talking about the topic will feel more natural and help everyone to talk about it —and that they are not alone in this world. Having the proper mental health resources ready is one of the many ways stigma is removed and shows the relevance of mental health services and awareness.
Mental health awareness is significant because it provides more support and care for those in need. It becomes less taboo and negative when more people are educated about mental health and mental illnesses. Mental health is as important as physical health. With all that is said and done, know that Roots TMS is here to assist you and your loved ones. Help will always be given here at Roots. Intervention for any mental health crisis is always here. Give us a call today!