Dealing with Mental Health on the Front Lines: Part 2
- 1. Dealing with Mental Health on the Front Lines Part 2
- 2. Getting Help If you or someone you know has a mental illness, there are ways to get help. Use these resources and techniques to find help for you, a friend, family member, or anyone that needs assistance. These resources are for informational purposes. By no means is this list exhaustive, some resources may not be located in all areas.
- 3. Immediate Help If you are in a crisis, and need immediate medial assistance or support please call 911 or your local emergency resource center. Please remember that your safety is paramount. Make sure you are in a safe environment and mindset before attempting to help someone else. If you feel you are not well equipped to handle a situation, remember you don’t have to intervene. You can call local authorities or emergency centers to handle the situation.
- 4. Action Plan of Mental Health Awareness and Intervention A: Assess for Risk of Suicide or Harm L: Listen Nonjudgmentally G: Give Reassurance and Information E: Encourage Appropriate Professional Help E: Encourage Self-Help and Other Support Strategies
- 5. Helpful and Unhelpful Things to Say A) I understand exactly what you are going through, I went through the same thing two years ago. B) I see how this could be distressing for you; but I am here to support and help you. C) I’m sorry you are going through this, but can I call you later? D) You know, I may not understand everything you are experiencing, but if you would like we could call a few resources together.
- 6. Listening Nonjudgmentally Attitudes that would make someone feel respected, accepted, and understood: Being Genuine Empathic Being Accepting of the Situation (even if you don’t understand it) Nonverbal skills that would show you are actively listening Comfortable eye contact Sitting next to (or at least adjacent to) Being attentive to the needs of the conversation
- 7. Warning Signs of Suicide Can’t stop the pain Can’t think clearly Can’t make decisions Can’t see any way out Can’t sleep, eat or work Can’t get out of depression Can’t make the sadness go away Can’t see a future without pain Can’t see themselves as worthwhile Can’t get someone’s attention Can’t seem to get control
- 8. The Do’s and Don’ts of Suicide Be direct. Talk openly and matter-of-factly about suicide. Be willing to listen. Allow expressions of feelings. Accept the feelings. Be non-judgmental. Don’t debate whether suicide is right or wrong, or whether feelings are good or bad. Don’t lecture on the value of life. Get involved. Become available. Show interest and support. Don’t dare him or her to do it. Don’t act shocked. This will put distance between you. Don’t be sworn to secrecy. Seek support. Offer hope that alternatives are available but do not offer glib reassurance. Get help from people or agencies specializing in crisis intervention and suicide prevention.
- 9. Addressing the Risk of Suicide ”Are you having thoughts of suicide?” “Have you ever had thoughts of killing yourself?” If the answer is ”yes” – follow up. “Do you have a plan?” ”Do you have the resources to carry out your plan?” “When do you plan on doing this?”
- 10. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline A confidential and toll-free call goes to the nearest crisis center in the Lifeline national network. These centers provide crisis counseling and mental health referrals. Trained crisis workers are available to talk 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Counselors are located at locally-operated crisis centers across the country answer all of the Lifeline's calls and chats 1-800-273-8255
- 11. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Lifeline Chat is a service of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, connecting individuals with counselors for emotional support and other services via web chat. All chat centers in the Lifeline network are accredited by CONTACT USA. Lifeline Chat is available 24/7 across the U.S. There may be a wait time to connect to a counselor when using this option. To speak with a counselor immediately, please direct people to use the talk lifeline.
- 12. Which of the Following is the Most Unsupportive Tactic when Discussing Mental Health? A) Telling someone to “Snap out of it.” B) Blaming the person for their illness. C) Trivializing the person’s experiences. D) Adopting an overinvolved and overprotective attitude.
- 13. Giving Reassurance and Information Do Have realistic expectations Offer consistent emotional support Give the young person hope Provide practical help Provide information Acknowledge the limits of what you can do Do Not Make promises you cannot keep Give Advice Dismiss the problem or emotions Focus on “right” vs. “wrong” Focus solely on weight, food, drugs, alcohol, injury or specific external factors unless there is an emergency Try to “fix” the problem yourself Engage in communication that is: belittling, sarcastic, hostile or patronizing
- 14. Medical Emergencies Seek immediate medical help when someone has: Consumed poison Sustained a life-threatening injury Is confused, disoriented, or unconscious Is actively bleeding (rapid or pulsing blood) Taken an overdose of medication or other substances
- 15. Encouraging Appropriate Professional Help Types of professionals: Doctors (pediatricians/primary care physicians/psychiatrists) Nurse practitioners/physician assistants Mental health professionals (e.g. social workers, licensed counselors) Drug and alcohol specialists School counselors Nutrition experts Certified peer specialists Other professionals Types of professional help: Individual, family and/or group therapy. Alcohol/drug treatment, withdrawal management. Problem-solving, decision making, or social skills training. Academic counseling. Dietary management. Medication.
- 16. What if the Person Does Not Want Help? Find Out Why Engage in professional intervention is an emergency or medical crisis is occurring Identify Resources
- 17. Looking for Local Behavioral Health Treatment Services SAMHSA: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- 18. Additional National Resources Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-237-TALK (8255) National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) 24/7 treatment referral and information Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990 Immediate crisis counseling related to disasters, 24/7 National Eating Disorders Association: 1-800-931-2237
- 19. Additional Resources 7 Cups: Online Therapy & Free Counseling. Online text chat based theory and counseling https://www.7cups.com/ ACT Coach iOS based, mental health app. Breathe2Relax Free for iOS and Android Operation Reach Out Mood Tracker and Resource Locator Free for iOS and Android PTSD Coach Free for iOS and Android Help for Service Members and Their Families https://www.mentalhealth.gov/get- help/veterans. Mental Health Resources (MHR) Mhresources.org
Editor's Notes
- #6: POLL: Which choice listed is the most unhelpful thing to say? Answers: A B C D
- #13: Let’s talk about what isn’t supportive: We’re going to throw a poll up here, for this one there isn’t a right or wrong answer this is just to see how people perceive unsupportive conversations. POLL: Which of the following is the most unsupportive tactic when discussing mental health: Answers: Telling someone to ”snap out of it”, blaming the person for their illness, trivializing the person’s experiences, or adopting n overinvolved and overprotective attitude.
- #21: I want to thank you for joining me for these last two weeks. If there is one thing I want to you to really take away from this is that: Your feelings and emotions are valid. You do not owe anyone an explanation for how your are feeling. Your experiences are valid and are just as important as anyone else’s.