Ch. 18 - Crisis Intervention

As a responder, you will frequently encounter people in crisis. Serious injuries, sudden illnesses, and deaths have an emotional impact on everyone involved. The degree of impact varies from person to person. In some cases, the impact is minimal, and a person can accept and handle an injury or illness that results in hospitalization, disability, or even death. In other cases, even a minor injury can create an extreme emotional crisis.

Transcript

2. Mental Health Crisis Mental health crises are disorders of mood, thought, or behavior that are dangerous or disturbing to the patient or those nearby Anxiety: medical disorder in which the dominant mood is fear and apprehension. Depression: a mood disorder where the patient may express feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, guilt and/or pessimism. Psychosis: a serious medical condition that reflects a disturbance in brain function. A person with psychosis experiences some loss of contact with reality, characterized by changes in their thinking, beliefs, perception, and/or behaviour
3. Care for Mental Health Crises • Be calming and reassuring • Help patient to take deep, controlled breaths • Listen to what he or she tells you • Temporarily direct patient’s thoughts away from topics that cause distress • For example ask about their interests or discuss topics of general interest • Any statements about suicide or attempts should be taken seriously, documented and reported when care is transferred, or offer to refer them for psychological counselling if not being transferred • In case of psychosis, immediate transfer to a medical facility is necessary • Request law enforcement personnel if necessary
4. • Feeling like you have lost hope and are struggling to cope • Dealing with thoughts of suicide • Worried about someone else • If you or someone else’s safety is at risk, call 911 988 – Suicide Crisis Help Line • Call or Text 24/7 • You will reach a responder within your local community
5. • Abbotsford • Burnaby • Chilliwack • Coquitlam/Port Coquitlam • Fort St John • Kamloops • Kelowna • Nanaimo • North Shore • Penticton • Prince George • Prince Rupert • Richmond • Squamish • Surrey • Vancouver • Victoria (South Van Isle) • Westshore Mobile Integrated Crisis Response Teams