Personality Disorders Plymouth

Steps to take in a Crisis

 

Emergency numbers in crisis situations

Emotional support and advice before it becomes an emergency

Samaritans:                                                                                                                                08457 90 90 90

- 24 hours

Provide confidential emotional support for people who are

experiencing feelings of distress, despair or suicidal thoughts.

 

NHS non-emergency medical helpline:                                                                               111

For urgent medical help or advice that is not life-threatening

 

Police non-emergency number:                                                                                               101

 

Call the emergency services or go to A&E for serious physical injuries -  

heavy bleeding, chest pains or breathing difficulties.                                                          999

 

Papyrus Hopeline UK:                                                                                                                0800 068 4141

Focuses on prevention of young suicide, under 35 years old

Support, advice, information.

10am-10pm weekdays

2pm-5pm weekends and bank holidays

 

SANEline:                                                                                                                                     0845 767 8000  - 6pm-11pm

Emotional support and information to anyone affected by mental illness                                                                                                              

For those of you currently open to your local Mental Health Service contact your Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) or Care Co-ordinator

 

If you are not receiving CMHT support please contact your GP

 

 

Draw up a simple plan of action for when a crisis may occur using these points:

 

• Stop and breathe, take a few deep breaths to get your mind in the present

• Notice what you are thinking, how you are feeling and what you are doing

• Don't hold on to your emotions or push them away just allow them to happen

 

Now you should be in a better mental state to respond to the crisis:

 

• Identify the problem

• Have I experienced this before, what did I do that helped?

• Can I do anything more helpful this time?

• What are the smallest, easiest and quickest steps for me to take right now?

• Is there someone I can call that would support/listen/advise me? e.g. Friends, family, GP or helplines

• If someone else was experiencing this what would I advise them to do, how would I treat them?

• If there is nothing I can do I could accept this unchangeable situation. There is no blame.

• Things happen which sometimes cannot be helped and dwelling on it will not change them or make myself feel better, I can learn from this experience and it will make me a stronger person so that coping becomes easier.

 

 

 

A 'traffic light system' could be a useful tool to identify when you are in different stages of distress and what action to take when you are feeling at that level.

 

The idea is to identify three stages of distress from mild, moderate to severe (green, amber, red).

 

• In the mild (green) section write your feelings when you are just getting annoyed/anxious

• Then write what might help to calm you down - e.g. reading a book, watching TV, art, calling a friend, playing with a pet, general distractions.

• In the moderate (amber) section write the next level of distress which is higher than the green. It may be when you have raised your voice or just before you have a panic attack.

• Then write down numbers to call to support you and how to change these feelings - e.g. going for a run, listening to loud music, removing yourself from the situation, finding a 'safe place'.

• In the severe (red) section write how you feel at your worst, it may be suicidal or intense anger/violence

• Then write down ways to help - e.g. numbers you could call for advice/help, a 'safe place' to go, excercise.