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CRISIS INFO

SUICIDE HOTLINE: 1-877-727-4747 24 HRS The patient should call: A counselor will try to help the patient.

In an Emergency in the San Fernando Valley

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If the patient is in IMMEDIATE DANGER to self or others.
If the patient is not in immediate danger, but still a danger to themselves or others.
If the patient is in the same situation as (2) BUT has Medicare, Medi-Cal, private insurance or private funds
If the patient will go WILLINGLY for a daytime, weekday crisis.
Hospitals with Psychiatric Units
Other crisis numbers
Article on how to handle a crisis.
Article on planning for an emergency.
What to do if my Family Member gets Arrested

1. If the patient is an IMMEDIATE DANGER to self or others, call 911 - Mention that the person is suffering from a mental illness. Police or sheriff deputies will respond.

2. If there is time and the patient is a danger to self or others or gravely disabled (not eating, without shelter) but will not seek help voluntarily (It is best to call between 8am and 6:30pm weekdays), THEN call LA County Dept. of Mental Health Psychiatric Mobile Response Team (PMRT) 818/832-2410 or 2400

(It is best to call between 8 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. weekdays.)

3. If the patient will go WILLINGLY for a daytime, weekday crisis, call first, then go to your local Public Mental Health Center shown below:

A. Center for Family Living, 14545 Sherman Circle, VAN NUYS, 91405. 818/901-4854.
(Serving: Encino, Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys)

B. Hillview Mental Health Center, 12450 # 200 Van Nuys Blvd, Pacoima, 91331.. 818/896-1161.
(Arleta, Pacoima, Lakeview Terrace, SunValley, Sunland, Kagel Canyon)

C. MacDonald Carey East Valley M H C. 11631 Victory Bl, #203, N HOLLYWOOD, 91606. 818/908-3855.
(N. Hollywood, Studio City, Toluca Lake, Burbank-west of Buena Vista, Universal City)

D. San Fernando M H C. 10605 Balboa Blvd, Granada Hills, 91344, 818-832-2400.
(Sylmar, San Fernando, Mission Hills, Granada Hills, North Hills, Panorama City)

E. Santa Clarita M H C. 25050 Peachland Av, #203, Newhall, 91321. 661/222-2800.
(City of Santa Clarita, Newhall, Valencia, Bouquet Canyon, Saugus, ValVerde, Canyon Country, Castaic, Sulpher Springs, Agua Dulce)

F. Verdugo M H C. 1540 Colorado St., Glendale, 91205. 818/244-7257.
(Glendale, Montrose, Verdugo City, Eagle Rock, Glassell Park, Atwater, La Crescenta, Burbank�east of Buena Vista, La Canada/Flintridge.)

G. West Valley M H C. 7621 Canoga Av, CANOGA PARK, 91304. 818/598-6900.
(Serving: WestLake Village in LA County, West Hills, Chatsworth, Canoga Park, Northridge, Porter Ranch, Winnetka, Woodland Hills, Tarzana, Reseda, Hidden Hills, Calabasas, Agoura Hills)

5. Hospitals with psychiatric units

� Hollywood Community of Van Nuys. 800-565-0558

� Mission Community Hsptl. San Fernando. 818-361-7331

� Northridge Hospital-Van Nuys. 818-908-8684

� Olive View Med Ctr. - Sylmar - 818-364-3432.

� Pacifica Hsptl of Valley, Sun Valley. 818-767-3310

� Tarzana Treatment Ctr: Drug/Alcohol. 818-996-7019

6. Other crisis numbers

� Department of Mental Health multi-lingual crisis line: 800-854-7771.

� Teen Line: 310-855-HOPE or TLC-TEEN.
6pm to 10pm.

7. Handling the Crisis!

(An Article from Our Newsletter of January, 1999)

There are some actions that can diminish or avoid disaster. You need to reverse any escalation of the psychotic symptoms and provide immediate protection and support to the person with the mental illness (as well as yourself in some cases).

Remember that things always go better if you speak softly and in simple sentences.

Your task is to help the person regain control. Do nothing to agitate the situation. The person is probably terrified by the subjective experience of loss of control over thoughts and feelings. The "voices" may be giving life-threatening commands; messages may be coming from light fixtures; the room may be filled with poisonous fumes; snakes may be crawling on the window. Accept the fact that the person is in an "altered reality state" and may "act out" the hallucination, e.g., shatter the window to destroy the snakes. It is imperative that you remain calm. If you are alone, call someone to stay with you until professional help arrives.

The person may have to be hospitalized. Try to convince him or her to go voluntarily; avoid patronizing or authoritative statements. If necessary, take steps to start the involuntary treatment process. If indicated, call the police but ask them not to brandish any weapons. Explain that your relative or friend has mental illness and that you have called for help.

	Don�t Threaten. This may be interpreted as a power play or prompt assaultive behavior.
	Don�t Shout. If the person isn�t listening, other "voices" are probably interfering.
	Don�t Criticize. It will make matters worse; it can�t make things better.
	Don�t Squabble with Other Family Members over "best strategies" or allocations of blame. It is not the time to prove a point.
	Don�t Bait the Person into acting out wild threats; the consequences could be tragic.
	Avoid Continuous Eye Contact or Touching.
	Comply with Requests that are not endangering or beyond reason. This gives the person the opportunity to feel somewhat "in control."
	Don�t Block the Doorway but keep yourself between the person and an exit.

(Originally appeared in the Orange County Depressive Manic-Depressive Association Newsletter, Winter, 1998)

8. Planning for an Emergency

(An Article from Our Newsletter of May, 1994)

Emergencies that have happened over the last two years will probably be the same ones that will happen over the next two years. Review what was done in the past and how it could be improved. Then you will have a plan that can guide your actions in future emergencies.

The Plan

1. The plan should be written. Trying to remember details in a crisis can be difficult. Having a written list of steps and procedures can help you focus on the immediate situation.

2. Include phone numbers and addresses of resources:

a. Mental health clinic, outpatient facility.

b. Emergency inpatient facilities.

c. Emergency/Crisis teams who have responded in the past.

d. Friends and relatives who will provide support.

3. Have solutions to problems that have worked in the past.

e.g. "Call the outpatient clinic and leave a message telling the doctor what has been happening and suggesting that an increase or change in medication may be helpful."

4. Have instructions on what to do and how to act. e.g. "If _______gets upset, stay calm and call the emergency line # __________________.

5. Have alternatives for all times: day and night, weekdays and weekends. e.g. "If the outpatient clinic is closed, call __________________.

6. Have alternatives if first steps don�t work. e.g. If such and such number doesn�t answer, try ______.

7. Have the plan carry through to the final resolution of the problem. Don�t leave yourself hanging.

Have an Up-to-date History Summary

Keep a summary of up-to-date information on your mentally ill loved one. This summary can be given to treatment facilities to speed treatment and avoid confusion and mistakes. The summary should be only one or two pages long. List items of significance pertaining to your love one�s illness:

	Past treatments: types of things that have worked well and things that have led to complications.
	Diagnosis�just the most recent. Include a brief statement about when the person became ill and what the person was like before the illness.
	List hospitalizations and reasons.
	Suicide attempts, when and how.
	Acts of violence, when, how and against whom or what.
	"Currently under treatment for (diagnosis).
	Current treating psychiatrist (if any) and current medication(s) and dosages and any side effects.
	If not taking any medication, say so
	History of drug and/or alcohol use.
	Physical ailments.

(Originally appeared in the NAMI Long Beach Newsletter, May, 1994)

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