What Is Considered A Mental Health Crisis?

Understanding What A Mental Health Crisis Looks Like and How to Get Effective Support

If you or a loved one is facing difficulties in terms of your psychological health, it is natural to wonder: What is considered a mental health crisis?

This can be a hard question to answer, as mental health is something that exists on a spectrum, and the line between some mental health challenges and a true crisis can be blurry. But there are effective ways to assess the difficulties and get the needed support.

We’ll help you better understand this question in the content below so you can decide how to move forward with the situation you are facing.

Whether what you are dealing with qualifies as a mental health crisis or rather some mental health issues that need to be confronted, getting help is always the right step to take. Mental illness is nothing to take lightly, and there is no shame in getting help with the battles you are fighting in your mind.

To connect with mental health professionals who can move you toward a more stable, peaceful state, reach out to Icarus Recovery Center in New Mexico. Our trained professionals are ready to serve you, and all calls are confidential, so please reach out at any time for support while you learn more about what is considered a crisis in terms of mental health.

Defining a Mental Health Crisis in Real Terms

The generally accepted definition of a mental health crisis is a situation in which a person’s emotional distress or psychological state puts them at immediate risk. That risk could involve harming themselves or doing harm to others.

This definition stands in contrast to what is seen as an ongoing mental health condition. Those conditions will fluctuate over time, but a true crisis represents an acute breaking point.

At this point, any coping mechanisms are defeated by overwhelming stress, and immediate assistance is required before self-harm or any other disastrous outcome occurs.

It’s important to note that a person doesn’t need to have a diagnosed mental health condition to have a mental health crisis. It’s certainly possible for a crisis to strike someone who has already been diagnosed with a condition, but that’s not a requirement. Things like panic attacks or other crises can strike suddenly and seemingly without warning signs.

What are the Most Common Signs of a Mental Health Crisis?

You might be thinking currently that a mental health crisis needs to look dramatic or extreme from the outside. That can be the case, such as with suicide attempts, but it’s not always that obvious that you need to call a crisis lifeline for help.

Sometimes, the evidence that points to a crisis can be rather subtle, like emotional shutdown or someone withdrawing as a result of overwhelming anxiety.

Overall, what should you watch for in a loved one if you are worried about them going through a mental health crisis?

Pay attention to things like intense mood swings or overwhelming sadness. Of course, everyone has natural ups and downs in their mood, but these will be more significant and will interfere with the ability to keep up with basic daily functioning.

You might hear a loved one talk about feeling like a burden to others, or that they can’t see a viable way forward in life. These kinds of statements from a friend or family member are highly concerning and reason enough to gain insight from a professional.

How Can I Watch for Behavioral Changes in a Loved One?

In addition to significant emotional changes, you might also notice that a loved one is behaving differently from what you are used to. This could mean isolating for long periods of time without seeing anyone in your normal circle.

It could also be things like increased substance or alcohol use or other reckless behaviors, a failure to eat sufficiently, or even giving away belongings. Just one of these actions in isolation might not be a crisis situation, but if the overall pattern is concerning, it might be time to find a way to hold an intervention of some kind.

What are the Main Types of Mental Health Crises?

There is no way to cover all of the possible scenarios that could play out for yourself or someone in your life.

Everyone is unique, and every situation is different. With that said, we can highlight a few basic examples below that you might use to better understand what is going on and what should happen next.

Suicide Attempts or Suicidal Ideation and Fixation

These are likely the most direct and scary signs of a mental health crisis. If someone attempts to take their own life, respond quickly by attempting to de-escalate that situation and get professional help.

Even if there hasn’t yet been any physical action but only suicidal thoughts being expressed, it’s still important to act. With the help of a therapist and various treatments, it is possible for someone to move past suicidal ideation and get into a better mental space.

As with mental health support in general, the path to crisis prevention is found through proactive outreach.

If you or a loved one is considering suicide, with or without a plan or attempts in the past, please stop reading now and call *988 for immediate support and to speak with a compassionate professional.

Severe Panic Attacks or Nervous Breakdown Symptoms

A panic attack is one of the most common reasons for someone with a mental health issue to visit the emergency room. These events can feel unmanageable both for those who experience them and their family or friends.

The feeling of panic itself is not necessarily life-threatening, but the situation can escalate quickly through a loss of control over one’s emotions and actions.

Psychotic Episodes

There are many different types of psychotic episodes that can lead someone into a dangerous place. These can include hallucinations, delusions, and extreme paranoia, among other possibilities.

When a psychotic episode can become dangerous is when the individual starts to act on beliefs that are not grounded in reality. These tipping point starts to bring in the risk of harm to themselves or others, and they might not even have any idea what they are doing.

Hypomanic episodes and manic episodes can also seem similar to the symptoms of psychosism and can impact a person’s ability to function at a profound level as well.

Emotional Breakdowns

An emotional breakdown may follow a serious traumatic event, such as the sudden loss of a loved one. Other possibilities include things like domestic violence or being involved in a serious accident.

When an emotional breakdown occurs, a person can be overcome with grief and shock, and they might not be able to cope with reality, at least in the short term.

Defining a Mental Health Crisis vs Ongoing Mental Health Challenges

There is a significant degree of overlap between a mental health crisis and an ongoing mental health condition. This is why it’s so hard to differentiate between the two, and why too often, people don’t reach out for help for themselves or a loved one until it is too late.

It’s true that many of the symptoms of a mental health condition are also present in a crisis. The fundamental difference typically comes down to severity. For example, someone with an ongoing mental health condition may be dealing with issues like distress, fatigue, or reduced quality of life. With that said, they are generally still able to function, make reasonable decisions, and maintain a basic level of self-care.

Crossing the Line Into a Crisis of Mental Health

When the line is crossed into crisis territory, it’s that basic functioning that starts to fade. No longer is the person able to care for themselves, and intervention can become urgent. They might be a risk of harming themselves or others actively, or it could be a crisis of inaction. They might be in bed for days, unable to care for themselves through eating, drinking water, and taking care of basic hygiene.

These distinctions don’t mean that “regular” mental health conditions aren’t important or serious, because they are. The only difference here is that a crisis situation demands immediate professional help to stop the downward spiral and put a treatment plan in place.

Looking Into the Role of Substance Use in a Mental Health Crisis

There is a close connection between mental health and substance abuse. Drugs and alcohol are often used by those who are dealing with mental health challenges, and the use of those substances is likely adding fuel to the fire. It makes things worse, often quite quickly, and a crisis situation becomes all the more likely.

For example, the use of alcohol can worsen feelings of sadness and hopelessness, while also lowering inhibitions at the same time. On the other side of the coin, stimulants can heighten anxiety and paranoia, potentially triggering panic.

This tight connection between mental health and addiction is why it’s so important to have both treated at the same time. Addressing one without thinking about the other is unlikely to be effective. Treatment that sees them as connected rather than as separate issues is far more likely to thrive, and that is why Icarus adopts a holistic approach to addressing underlying causes of crisis and distress.

Address Mental Health Challenges Today at Icarus Recovery

If you or a loved one is in immediate danger from an emotional crisis or emotional distress of any kind, reach out for help right away. Calling 988 is a great place to start in such a situation. Don’t delay or set aside warning signs. Take this situation seriously and get the help that is needed.

Following the immediate crisis, we are here to support long-term recovery and a return to stability.

Of course, there are plenty of other forms of mental health issues that may stem from a stressful or traumatic event without rising to the level of a crisis. In those cases, calling Icarus Recovery Center in New Mexico is an excellent option. We offer professional help that can take many forms, including working with a trained counselor as you go through a customized treatment program.

We also accept most forms of NM Medicaid and most insurances to help cover the costs of care.

Whether you are experiencing issues or watching a loved one endure them, please do not hesitate to reach out for our dedicated support options now.