If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911 now. If you are having thoughts of suicide or are in emotional distress, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7.
In a mental health crisis, the most important steps are to make sure everyone is safe, reach out for immediate help and stay with the person if you can do so safely. Call or text 988 for crisis support, or call 911 if someone’s life is at risk. Once the immediate danger passes, follow-up care within days, not weeks, helps prevent another crisis.
What Is a Mental Health Crisis?
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) defines a mental health crisis as any situation in which a person’s behavior puts them at risk of hurting themselves or others, or keeps them from meeting their basic needs. A crisis can happen whether or not someone has a diagnosed mental health condition, and it can build slowly or come on suddenly.
Warning Signs of a Mental Health Crisis
According to NAMI, common warning signs include:
- Being unable to handle daily tasks like bathing, brushing teeth or changing clothes
- Rapid mood swings or increased agitation
- Losing touch with reality (psychosis), such as not recognizing family or friends
- Pulling away from friends, family and normal activities
- Paranoia
- Violent or aggressive behavior
Warning Signs of Suicide
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) lists these warning signs, especially if they are new or getting worse:
- Talking about wanting to die, feeling great guilt or shame, or being a burden to others
- Feeling empty, hopeless or trapped, or having no reason to live
- Extreme sadness, anxiety, agitation or rage, or unbearable emotional or physical pain
- Making a plan or researching ways to die
- Withdrawing from others, saying goodbye or giving away important items
- Taking dangerous risks, extreme mood swings, changes in eating or sleeping, or using more alcohol or drugs
NIMH advises getting help as soon as possible if these signs apply to you or someone you know.
What to Do in a Mental Health Crisis: Step by Step
1. Check for Immediate Danger
If someone has attempted suicide, is seriously injured, has a weapon or is threatening to harm others, call 911. If an overdose is possible, call 911 right away, and if opioids may be involved, give naloxone (Narcan) if you have it. Learn the steps in our guide on how to use Narcan.
2. Call or Text 988
For suicidal thoughts, emotional distress or a substance use crisis, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a good first call. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, 988 offers free and confidential support 24/7 by phone, text or chat, and you can reach out for yourself or for a loved one. Spanish speakers can press 2 or text AYUDA to 988.
In Pennsylvania, calls are answered by trained crisis counselors at the state’s 14 crisis call centers, who can connect you to local resources. The state reports that 93% of calls are resolved through conversation alone, and counselors can also send a mobile crisis team or refer you to outpatient services when needed. The Federal Communications Commission notes that veterans can press 1 after dialing 988 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line.
3. Use Local Crisis Services
NAMI explains that 24-hour crisis lines are often the first point of contact, and mobile crisis teams can come to wherever the crisis is happening. Other options may include crisis stabilization units and emergency rooms when safety is a concern. In Lancaster County, the county directs people facing a mental health emergency that needs immediate attention to its Crisis Intervention service.
4. If You Call 911, Say It Is a Mental Health Emergency
NAMI recommends telling the dispatcher that it is a mental health emergency and asking for responders with Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training. CIT officers are trained to help de-escalate mental health situations.
How to Help Someone in a Crisis
If it is safe to stay with the person, how you respond can help calm the situation. NAMI’s crisis guide suggests:
- Stay calm and use an even tone of voice
- Keep noise and stimulation low
- Give the person space and avoid making them feel trapped
- Listen and reflect back what you hear, so they feel understood
- Express concern and offer support
Avoid arguing, lecturing or making promises you cannot keep. For ongoing support, see our guide on how to help someone with depression.
Make a Crisis Plan Before You Need One
A written crisis plan makes it easier to act quickly when stress is high. NAMI recommends including:
- The person’s name, diagnoses and current medications
- Contact information for their mental health providers
- Addresses and contact information for nearby crisis centers and local crisis lines
- Trusted people to call and strategies that have helped in the past
Keep copies in an easy-to-find place and review the plan after any crisis.
After the Crisis: Next Steps
A crisis is a sign that more support is needed. After things stabilize, NAMI recommends making sure follow-up care happens within seven days of any hospital discharge, confirming that medications are available and affordable, connecting with community supports and updating the crisis plan.
Many people benefit from structured outpatient care after a crisis. If someone has been hospitalized, learn about step-down care after a psychiatric hospital stay. If weekly therapy has not been enough, our guide to signs you may need more than weekly therapy can help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I call 988 or 911?
Call 911 if someone is in immediate physical danger, has attempted suicide, is badly hurt or may have overdosed. Call or text 988 for suicidal thoughts, emotional distress or a substance use crisis when there is no immediate threat to life.
Can I call 988 for someone else?
Yes. You can contact 988 if you are worried about a loved one. A crisis counselor can help you figure out how to support them and what to do next.
Will calling 988 send the police?
Usually not. Pennsylvania reports that most 988 calls are resolved through conversation alone. When more help is needed, counselors can send a mobile crisis team or connect you with local services.
What counts as a crisis?
Any situation where a person’s behavior puts them or others at risk, or keeps them from meeting basic needs, counts as a mental health crisis.
Get Mental Health Treatment in Lancaster, PA
The Ranch Pennsylvania Outpatient Services is not a crisis or emergency service. If you are in crisis right now, call or text 988, or call 911. Once you are safe, we can help with the next step. Our mental health treatment programs in Lancaster include a partial hospitalization program with full-day programming five days a week and an intensive outpatient program with three-hour sessions three days a week, plus psychiatric evaluation and medication management. We treat depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder and co-occurring substance use. You can verify your insurance online, and our admissions team is available 24/7. Calls are free and confidential.
