Emergency crisis intervention is first step on the road to getting an established network of doctors, mental health agencies and various services in between. What happens next would largely depend on which service or agency was notified and the severity of the crisis.
Please call 911 if there is an immediate risk for harm or an emergency
For suicide intervention, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to get help by phone at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) Toll-free in the U.S. 24 hours a day.
To report a sexual assault, Call 911 or contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) to speak with a trained sexual assault service provider in your are
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Website
If you are hard of hearing, you can chat with a Lifeline counselor 24/7 by:
- Online chat – Click the Chat button below
- Video relay Service – Dial 800-273-8255
- TTY – Dial 800-799-4889
- Voice/Caption Phone – Dial 800-273-8255
If you are a Veteran or service member with hearing loss, or any person concerned about someone who is, there are several ways to contact the Veterans Crisis Line:
- Text with a Veterans Crisis Line responder – Send a text message to 838255
Chat online with the Veterans Crisis Line
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline en Español
Ayuda en Español. Lifeline ofrece 24/7, gratuito servicios en español, no es necesario hablar ingles si usted necesita ayuda.
Cuando usted llama al número 1-888-628-9454, su llamada se dirige al centro de ayuda de nuestra red disponible más cercano. Tenemos actualmente 170 centros en la red y usted hablará probablemente con uno situado en su zona. Cada centro funciona en forma independiente y tiene su propio personal calificado.
Cuando el centro contesta su llamada, usted estará hablando con una persona que le escuchará, le hará preguntas y hará todo lo que esté a su alcance para ayudarle.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline en Español Website
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor 24/7.
To report a sexual assault, Call 911 or contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) to speak with a trained sexual assault service provider in your area.
Individuals who are in potentially unsafe situation or environment would require immediate intervention through Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and/or police. If the person requiring intervention has been deemed as a very high risk for harming themselves or others during transport to a hospital, they may be placed on a Health or Peace Officer Hold which would allow for someone to be brought to the ER and be evaluated by a doctor and/or mental health professional, even if the person decides they no longer need intervention. Upon evaluation, the doctor may determine it to be in the best interest of the person to be admitted for inpatient stabilization. If the person has not deemed to be at an extreme risk of self-harm and they agree with the doctor’s recommendation, they can choose to be admitted to a facility under a voluntary status.
For County Crisis intervention, the representative will speak to individual over the phone and may also to go to the person’s location for an in-person assessment. The county representative will likely be escorted by police officers for safety. If the representative determines further intervention is needed, they will coordinate with EMS and police to have the person transported to the hospital.
In the emergency room, the individual will have a basic medical assessment (if there are no injuries or pre-existing health conditions that would require medical intervention) with typically involves a drug screen and blood panel, depending on the facility and their guidelines for psychiatric patents. If there is are prior mental health and psychiatric diagnoses, the doctor will refer to any pertinent information in the medical records. Some hospitals have a social worker or mental health assessor on site to perform mental health assessments and will also help determine whether or not the person will need to be admitted to an inpatient mental health facility. If County Crisis was involved, the doctor will obtain collateral information that would also be used during the assessment.
If it is determined the person should be admitted to an inpatient psychiatric facility, the doctor is obligated to inform the person (and/or legal representative) of the decision, the reasoning behind the recommendation and to inform the individual of their rights. If the person is unwilling to be admitted to the hospital voluntarily, the doctor may an Emergency Hold Order which would require hospitalization for up to 72 hours, which do not include weekends (Saturday and Sunday) and legal holidays. Unless a court order has been obtained by the treatment facility or provider, the person must be discharged after the hold expires.
As stated in MN Statute 253B.05:
Every person held pursuant to this section must be informed in writing at the time of admission of the right to leave after 72 hours, to a medical examination within 48 hours, and to request a change to voluntary status. The treatment facility shall, upon request, assist the person in exercising the rights granted in this subdivision.
As always, this process may differ by county. For more information about patient’s rights, visit the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
*Disclaimer: the information presented in this post is not intended to be taken as legal advice and is strictly for informational purposes only.
