Dos and Don’ts for Handling a Mental Illness Crisis

 

 DO:

1.  REMEMBER: a person with a mental illness has the RIGHT to FAIR treatment.

2.  Continually ASSESS THE SITUATION for dangerousness.

3.  MAINTAIN ADEQUATE SPACE between you and the person.

4.  BE CALM.

5.  BE HELPFUL.  Respond to basic needs.

6.  GIVE FIRM, CLEAR DIRECTIONS; only one person should talk at a time.

7.  FOLLOW THROUGH with directions or commands.

8.  RESPOND TO FEELINGS, rather than content.

9.  Respond to DELUSIONS by talking about the person’s feelings rather than what he or she is saying.

 

 

DON’T:

1.  JOIN into behavior related to the person’s mental illness.

2.  STARE at the person.

3.  CONFUSE the person.  Only one other person should interact with the person at a time.

4.  TOUCH the person unless necessary.  For persons with a mental illness it may cause fear and

lead to violence.

5.  GIVE MULTIPLE CHOICES.  This can increase the person’s confusion.

6.  WHISPER, JOKE OR LAUGH.

7.  DECEIVE  the person.  Dishonesty increases fear and suspicion; the person will likely

remember it in any subsequent contacts.

8.  THREATEN TO CALL POLICE unless you intend to follow through with making the call.