Youth in crisis face significant barriers to getting help. Many states are seeking input from families and children with lived experience to ensure that child-serving systems are positioned to meet their needs.
They may have lost a loved one to Covid, experienced trauma and/or bullying at school, or are dealing with relationship or sexual violence.
What is a Crisis?
A crisis is a situation that a person experiences as an intolerable difficulty that exceeds their current resources and coping mechanisms. Teenagers in crisis can be affected by a variety of situations, including:
Anxiety: This is when a teenager experiences intense feelings of worry or fear and it may interfere with their ability to function normally. Trauma: This is when a teenager experiences a life-changing event that causes them to feel overwhelmed and can affect their emotional and mental health. Drug and alcohol abuse: This is when a teenager starts to use drugs or alcohol in a way that is harmful to their physical or mental health.
Family and community situations can also cause teenagers to experience a crisis. For example, a financial crisis could lead to a teenager being homeless or having trouble getting enough food to eat. Family conflict, a breakup or the death of a loved one can be a source of stress and depression for teens.
How can I help my child?
In a crisis, kids need adults they can trust to provide stability and support. This is particularly true if they have mental health conditions that make it harder for them to cope with the stressors around them.
Talk with your child about their emotions and concerns, and listen to them. Be sure to make it clear that they can tell you anything without fear of judgement or punishment. It’s also a good idea to talk about the warning signs that they might be heading for a crisis.
If you think they are in immediate danger of hurting themselves or others, call 9-1-1. Ask to speak with a responder trained in mental health issues. If you think your child is not in an immediate crisis, talk with them about the resources available to them. Consider asking a school counselor or therapist to help your child create a crisis plan. This can help them identify the warning signs, know who to call for help, and learn how to handle a crisis when it happens.
What is a Crisis Stabilization Facility?
DHS and its partners are working year-round to implement Governor Evers’ vision of ensuring Wisconsinites in crisis have “someone to call, someone to respond, and a safe place to go.”1
Supportive Crisis Stabilization Centers (SCSC) are designed to admit people in mental health or substance use crisis on a voluntary basis. These facilities blend hospital-level safety standards with more person-centered approaches to care. The facility can be free-standing or ED/hospital associated and offer a range of services from 24 hour psychiatric coverage to subacute residential treatment. Lengths of stay can vary from days to weeks.
Intensive Crisis Stabilization Centers (ICSC) are similar to SCSCs but may admit people on an involuntary basis. They are often staffed with a combination of nursing and psychiatric coverage, offering a range of short term acute services from 24 hours to days. These programs are often staffed with a mix of staff who can include peers with lived experience, therapists, social workers, and peer advocates.
What is a Mobile Crisis Team?
Mobile crisis teams are made up of professionals, such as therapists, who travel to individuals in a mental health crisis. They provide onsite assessments and try to de-escalate and stabilize individuals at the location of their crisis (typically home, a public space or a community crisis center) before they transport them offsite to a higher level of care. This can be a community crisis center, psychiatric emergency department (ED), or a psychiatric inpatient unit.
They also offer support for families and caregivers by providing resources to help them navigate the system and cope with a loved one’s emotional distress. They also offer education on how to recognize and respond to a person in a mental health crisis.
Many localities and counties have 24-hour programs called ACCESS lines that provide prompt mental health appointments, client advocacy and links to services. Often, these programs are a key entry point for the youth in crisis and can be used to prevent unnecessary involvement of law enforcement.