Crisis Resource Guide

What is a mental health crisis?

Any situation in which an individual's behaviors, accidentally or on purpose, leads a person to hurt themselves or others; or potentally renders them unable to care for themselves or function.

What are the signs?  Can include but are not limited to:

• Inability to perform daily tasks
• Suicidal or homicidal thinking and/or behavior
• Acute psychotic symptoms
• Sudden changes in mental status and violence
• Mood swings
• Isolation from school, work, family and friends
• Psychosis or loses touch with reality
• Increased agitation
• Abusive behavior
• Paranoia

Managing your self-care/avoiding a mental health crisis:

• Plan ahead, evaluate the situation, organize your thoughts and specific concerns and prepare prior to meeting with your therapist or psychiatrist.  Learn more.
  
• Managing Your Recovery.  This booklet includes information on illness self-management, coping strategies, and wellness tools.
• Support and Education.

What a family member can do:

• Navigating a Mental Health Crisis provides important, potentially life-saving information for people experiencing mental health crises and their loved ones.  This guide outlines what can contribute to a crisis, warning signs that a crisis is emerging, strategies to help de-escalate a crisis, a sample crisis plan, available resources and so much more.
• Crisis Guide Infographic
• What to Do in a Psychiatric Crisis in Maryland

Crisis Hotlines in Maryland:

• Maryland's Statewide Information and Referral (for emergency mental health services): 211 press 1 or text zip code to 898-211.
• Listings by County.
• Crisis Text Line - Text "NAMI" to 741741.
• Go to a safe place and dial 911 to ask for immediate assistance if the situation is life-threatening or if serious property damage is occuring.

Recorded Webinars: