Helping Someone in a Mental Health Emergency

When someone is having a hard time with their mental health, it’s important to act quickly and helpfully. Here are some simple ways to support them:

1. Check the Situation:

   • Take a moment to see how the person is feeling. Ask them open questions like, “What’s going on?”
   • Did you know about 1 in 5 adults face mental illness each year? That shows why it's so important to know how to help.

2. Make Sure Everyone is Safe:

   • Make the area safe for both the person and yourself. If there are any dangerous items around, try to remove them.
   • It's really important to keep the space safe. About 20% of young people have thought about suicide, which means acting quickly can save a life.

3. Talk Calmly:

   • Speak in a clear and calm way to help ease the situation.
   • Listening carefully is super important. Research shows that 70% of good communication comes from listening well.

4. Suggest Getting Help:

   • If things don’t get better, gently encourage the person to talk to a professional, like a counselor.
   • Only about half of adults with mental health issues get the help they need, so guiding them to resources is very important.

5. Check In Later:

   • After the situation is over, reach out to the person again. Show them you care and help them find further support if they need it.

Using these simple steps, based on mental health first aid, can really make a difference in a tough situation. Your support can help someone get through their crisis.