How to plan for a mental health crisis

You might not like the idea of planning for something you hope won't happen. But it could help to think about what you might do if you start to feel in crisis in the future. And what kind of support you think you might want.

We're here with some suggestions for you to consider.

I spoke to a mental health nurse about my experiences and history and we made a plan

Explore ideas for help and support in a crisis

You could explore options for support when things are less difficult. This can help you to have information ready for times when you might need it.

Some people find these ideas useful. But remember that different things work for different people at different times.

You could:

• Talk to your GP. You could ask your GP about options for treatment and support. There might be crisis houses or day services in your area. But usually you'll need to be referred to these. See our information on how to get help from your GP.
• Find details of any crisis cafés, sanctuaries or safe havens in your area. These are places that support people who need somewhere safe and calm to go for a short time. You don't normally need a referral for these. You could ask your local Mind if they offer this kind of support. Or they may have information about other local services. For more information see our page on crisis houses, sanctuaries and day services.
• Look for local services on the Hub of Hope website.
• Find details of mental health helplines, including how to contact them. And when they're open.
• Look at our A-Z of mental health. It has information about different mental health problems, including ideas for self-care. And how to get support.
• Try peer support. Talking to people with similar experiences could help you find out about different services. Or give you helpful tips to try. Our pages on peer support groups for mental health have more information.
• Find a recovery college. Recovery colleges offer courses about mental health and recovery in a supportive environment. You can find local providers on the Mind Recovery Net website.
• Look into advocacy. Someone might be able to act as your advocate, when you need them. See our pages on advocacy for more information.
• Ask your GP about family intervention. You may be offered this, depending on your diagnosis. It's a service that focuses on helping family members talk to each other about what helps, solve problems and plan for a crisis. Your GP will be able to find out if this is available in your area.

My GP advised me to contact my therapist for an emergency appointment. He also put me in contact with my local crisis team at the hospital, who I could contact at any point if I started to decline again. 

Make a personal crisis plan

Create a plan of how you'd prefer to manage a crisis in the future. You could write this down. Or you could talk to people close to you and tell them what you've decided. You could think about:

• Things that have been helpful in the past
• What has made things more difficult or upsetting in the past
• How other people might help you spot the signs of a crisis
• Times or places where you may be more likely to experience a crisis
• What treatment you'd prefer
• How you'd like others to help you
• Who others should contact in a crisis, such as your GP or a family member

Make a self-care box

You may find it helpful to fill a box with things you find comforting or distracting. For example, your favourite book, pictures or photos, a fidget toy, a blanket or comfy clothes.

This means you can personalise what's helpful for you and have this ready in advance. It can be hard to come up with ideas when you're feeling in crisis.

Or you could make a digital self-care kit and save it on your phone. You could save photos, music, videos, messages or sayings that you find helpful. Or notes to remind yourself how to manage difficult situations.

Make an advance statement

In some situations, experiencing a mental health crisis might mean that you become unable to make decisions about your treatment. In legal terms, this is called losing capacity.

If you're worried about losing capacity, you might decide to make an advance statement. This is a written statement about what you would like to happen if you lose capacity. Health professionals must look at this and consider your wishes when they make decisions for you.

It can include things like:

• What treatment you would prefer
• Who you would like to be contacted in a crisis
• Any spiritual or religious views and requests
• Your food preferences

You could ask your GP, care coordinator, psychiatrist or other health care professional to help you make an advance statement.

For more about what you might include, see the Rethink Mental Illness website.

You can also visit the Advance Choice website. It has short videos that explain how to make your own plan. It also has a form you can download and fill in.

Examples of advance statements include:

Joint crisis plans (JCPs)

Joint crisis plans are also known as JCPs. They're a type of advance statement agreed between you and any health care professionals involved in your treatment.

A JCP could include:

• Signs that you might be experiencing a crisis
• What support you might be offered in a crisis
• Practical help you might need if you go into hospital, such as childcare arrangements
• Who you would want health professionals to contact

The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published information about improving care. Its webpage What should happen after I've been assessed? includes information on crisis plans and what to include.

You might also decide to include other information. For example, details of medication you're taking or any allergies you have.

If you and your doctor agree on the plan together while you're well, it's more likely to be followed during a crisis.

Crisis cards

A crisis card is a small card you carry in your wallet, purse or pocket.

You can put key details about how you'd prefer to be helped in a crisis on the card. Then you can look at it or show it to other people when you need to.

You might decide to tell people you know, such as friends or family, about the card and where you keep it.

How advance statements and advance decisions differ

Advance statements aren't legally binding. They can cover a wide range of issues related to your treatment in a crisis. They should be taken into account if a relevant decision is being made about you during a crisis.

Advance decisions are legally binding decisions to refuse certain types of health care in the future. See our page on advance decisions in our guide to the Mental Capacity Act for more information.