Most parents expect a certain amount of angst and rebellion during the teenage years, but sometimes these behaviors can indicate a true mental health crisis. A loss of interest in favorite activities, sudden weight gain or loss, or quitting a team sport mid-season are all signs that something is wrong.
What is a Crisis?
When a person experiences a mental health crisis, it can be incredibly frightening. It can be a time where they feel lost or overwhelmed and are unable to solve the problem using their own coping mechanisms.
When someone in crisis is able to call a hotline, they will be connected with master’s level clinicians who can help them work through the situation. They will also help them determine the best next steps, which may include in-patient care or a therapy plan.
A person’s crisis can be caused by any number of things, including a medical emergency or an emotional breakdown. It can be a result of traumatic events, like abuse or a family member’s suicide. Or, it can be a result of social issues, like isolation or lack of supportive relationships. Regardless of the cause, it is important for young people to have access to resources when they need them. Often, those resources include school-based programs that focus on social-emotional learning and provide a safe space to talk.
Symptoms of a Mental Health Crisis
Youth in mental health crisis can have a wide range of symptoms. They may experience feelings of hopelessness, helplessness or extreme sadness. They may have hallucinations or feel paranoid. They may act aggressively or even become violent. They might run away or try to hurt themselves. Youth in a mental health crisis can be difficult to calm down and might require restraint or transportation to the hospital if necessary.
A mental health crisis can be triggered by many events including breakups, death of a friend or loved one, natural or large scale disaster, physical/sexual abuse, drug/alcohol use or thoughts of self-harm or suicide. It is important to know the warning signs and be able to recognize them in others. While it is essential to offer emotional support, it is also helpful to set boundaries and encourage professional intervention when needed. This can prevent caregiver burnout and ensure the individual receives the specialized care they need.
Signs of a Mental Health Crisis in Teens
The emotional roller coaster of adolescence can make it hard to know whether teens are going through typical stress or a mental health crisis. It is important to remain involved in your teen’s life and pay attention to changes in their daily routine, mood and relationships.
Big changes like skipping school or acting distant may be a sign that they are struggling emotionally and do not know how to talk about it. If your teen is talking about wanting to kill themselves or seems to be unable to function, this is a serious sign that they are at risk of suicide. It is critical to remove access to weapons and drugs, and call a crisis line or ER immediately.
Extreme reactions like hearing voices, seeing things that aren’t there or being terrified suggest a psychiatric emergency and require immediate psychiatric intervention. These can be signs of psychosis, severe anxiety or trauma responses. Youth in these states need urgent psychiatric care to be safely brought back to a more stable state.
Signs of a Mental Health Crisis in Young Adults
In young adults, a mental health crisis can look different than in teens. Often, because young adults live away from home and aren’t closely monitored in educational environments, it’s easier to miss warning signs. However, if a young adult is constantly expressing feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness and/or a desire to harm themselves, it’s important to take these statements seriously.
Parents should also pay attention to poor performance in school and/or the workplace, especially if it persists over time. This may be a sign of underlying mental illness like depression or anxiety, or of a more serious issue such as substance abuse or bullying.
Any behavior that is putting someone in danger should be taken very seriously, and it’s crucial to seek professional advice. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911 or their county’s crisis line at 988. If they are not in immediate danger, call the county crisis line or Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.