Managing a Mental Health Crisis

Katherine Ponte’s medical crisis began with a 911 call, following a psychiatric episode she suffered. She was forcibly removed from her home by three armed police officers and two paramedics and escorted to a siren-blaring ambulance. Shocked and confused, she screamed and cried. The health care process was not logical, orderly, or friendly. 

Sadly, Ponte’s experience is all too common. Mental illness is the third most common cause of hospitalization in the United States. She and her spouse were completely unprepared and now she advocates for the creation of a mental health crisis plan.

According to Ponte, “I was involuntarily admitted to a chaotic psychiatric emergency room where I was isolated from my family. I was forcibly medicated multiple times. For two days, I was confined to a gurney in a corridor before being admitted to the inpatient unit. It was embarrassing and disempowering.” 

Ponte’s advice, based on her experience, is to: 

• Plan in advance; 
• Create a psychiatric advance directive; 
• Sign a release of information for your caregivers; 
• Agree to alternatives to hospitalization, including peer respite—a voluntary, short-term overnight program—or an outpatient program; 
• Utilize a crisis intervention team; 
• Find a mobile crisis team of mental health care providers in your area who you can call in a crisis.

Another alternative is voluntary hospitalization. Look for solutions that make you and your loved ones feel better, not worse.