Many people are disturbed about what to do in the face of a mental health emergency. To find out that you have to understand the definite situation of a mental health emergency. As with any medical emergency, a mental health emergency can also be hard. Most of the time psychiatric emergency implicates the threat of suicide or the incident of a real suicide attempt. 

What are mental emergencies?

Psychiatric emergencies can encompass the threat of harm to another person. In a situation where a patient is going through or becoming psychotic and is being guided by audio or visual illusions, it is sometimes possible that there is a threat posed to another person. 

This is moderately rare but it can happen if someone is incredibly disturbed, on hallucinatory drugs, or is in the grasp of an extremely serious psychotic outbreak with paranoid thoughts that others are intending to harm the individual.

How to deal with mental emergencies?

Partners, family, and neighbors are often confused about what to do in the event of such a mental emergency because they do not know who to call for assistance. Commonly, people think to call their doctor’s office and get an emergency appointment if someone has a high fever or another type of physical symptom. 

However, it is generally uncertain that anyone can call their psychiatrist for an appointment under the above circumstances. Most psychiatrists are not prepared to handle certain emergencies in their private offices. It’s because of that that people most probably hear a recorded message advising them to go to the emergency room in the event of a crisis.

When someone is in the center of a severe emotional crisis indicated by suicidal or homicidal intent it is doubtful that they will voluntarily go to the emergency room even if supported by a friend or family member. 

That is why it is necessary to call emergency services and report that someone is in danger of attempting suicide or has already attempted for one, cut themselves, or did something life-threatening. Emergency services in most communities will then send both the authority and an EMT ambulance to the site of the reported threat. 

Both police and the EMT workers will evaluate the situation and determine whether or not the person needs hospitalization. If the threat is considered serious then they will bring the patient to the hospital emergency room where they will withstand additional evaluation and wait until arrangements are made in a local psychiatric facility. 

Once moved to a psychiatric hospital the patient will be medicated and settled until the crisis has passed. The treatment usually comprises meetings with the psychiatrist and attendance at group psychotherapy sessions. 

Once the patient is considered safe the psychiatric hospital will either return the person home with medication and with suggestions for continued treatment. This process also includes meetings with the family members of the patient.

Why are the above actions important during mental emergencies?

Panic and tension is not the solution for mental emergencies. Taking the corrective measures at the right time will help save a life. Threats of suicide must be taken seriously. 

This is extremely true if the threats have been voiced frequently or the person is under the influence of drugs. It is a hazardous myth to believe that suicide threats are harmless experiments to get attention.