In Case of Mental Health Emergency: A Crisis Toolkit

The Crisis Toolkit is an easy-to-use set of questions designed to help families navigate mental health emergencies together. Think of it like a fire escape plan for your home. The more prepared you are to handle a mental health emergency, the easier it will be to remain calm in a moment of crisis.

Anyone can create the Crisis Toolkit. Our Crisis Toolkit, however, is designed specifically for young people and their loved ones to discuss and complete together.

You should include specific mental health triggers, coping skills that have worked in the past, and the names and contact information of the people in your support network (friends, family members, a primary care provider, mental health professionals, etc.) There are no right or wrong answers, so try to be as open and honest as possible.

First, download and print the Crisis Toolkit. If you don’t have a printer, you can use the questions in the Toolkit and answer them in a notebook!

A mental health crisis refers to a situation where a person’s mental well-being is severely compromised, and they are experiencing significant distress or instability. It is often characterized by a sudden escalation of symptoms or an inability to cope effectively with a specific stressor or emotional state. Some common examples of a mental health crisis include:

• Intense feelings of hopelessness, despair, or suicidal thoughts.
• Severe anxiety or panic attacks.
• Extreme mood swings or emotional instability.
• Inability to take care of oneself or perform daily activities.

A mental health emergency is a situation where there is an imminent risk of harm to oneself or others due to a severe mental health condition. It involves an immediate threat to life, safety, or well-being. Some examples of a mental health emergency include:

• Active or imminent suicidal behavior, such as a suicide attempt or expressing a clear plan and intent to end one’s life.
• Extreme aggression or violence toward oneself or others.
• Loss of consciousness or significant impairment in functioning due to mental health symptoms.

You should aim to review your Crisis Toolkit every six months. However, if you discover a new coping skill, connect with a new mental health provider, or want to include any other information not in the original version, make sure to update the responses

• • Call: 1-800-662-4357
  • Text your ZIP code to: 435748
  • Visit SAMHSA’s National Helpline website: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline