What is a Mental Health Emergency/Crisis?

Anyone can experience a mental health crisis.

A crisis is someone’s personal reaction to an event or experience in their life they find hard to cope with.

People may experience crisis as a result of many events. These can include, but are not limited to:

• Relationship breakdown or difficulties
• Loss (of a loved one, job, home)
• Physical health issues
• Caring for another
• Violence and trauma
• Pressures from work or study
• An accident
• A natural disaster
• The onset of mental health issues

(Reference: Lifeline) 

If someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, they may feel that they are no longer able to cope or be in control of their situation.

They may feel great emotional distress or anxiety, can’t cope with day-to-day life or work, think about suicide or self-harm, or experience hallucinations and hearing voices.

A crisis can also be the result of a sudden deterioration of an existing mental health problem or an underlying medical condition.

(Reference: NHS) 

It is vital that if someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, that they receive the correct care as soon as possible.