Navigating A Mental Health Crisis: Creating A Crisis Plan
Source: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Resource Type: Documents and Publications
Focus Population: Family Members, Peers/Clients/Consumers
Topics: Behavioral Health Services, Best Practices, Community Defined or Evidence Based Practices, Crisis Continuum of Care
When a person has a mental illness, the potential for a crisis is never far from mind. Crises can occur even when a person is in treatment. Unfortunately, unpredictability is simply the nature of mental illness. A crisis plan is designed to help individuals and families address escalating symptoms/behaviors and prepare for oncoming crises. These plans should be written down and stored in a safe location; developed by the person with the mental health condition and their family and friends; and updated whenever there is a change in diagnosis, medication, treatment or providers.