My Child is in Crisis: How to Find Mental Health Care

If your child is dealing with a mental health crisis, you’re not alone. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), one in five teens has experienced a debilitating mental illness in their life. But knowing how to help – and where to find the right care – can be confusing, frustrating, and even scary.

“In the extreme, loneliness, depression and anxiety can lead to a risk for suicide or self-harm, destruction of property, and even harming others,” says Paul Burns, LPC, western regional coordinator of crisis services at Atlantic Health System. “Keeping open communication with your child can make the difference in getting treatment sooner, and potentially diverting a crisis.”

Prepare for a conversation

Knowing how to start a conversation with your child can be overwhelming and requires some preparation. To start, make sure you understand your own feelings about the topic before you bring it up with your child.

“As a parent, you have so many opportunities to teach and model healthy coping skills,” says Paul. “Seeing how you approach challenges and learn from your mistakes shows your child how to overcome difficult situations in the same way, with compassion and empathy for themselves and others.”

Have the discussion

Be ready to ask your child direct questions. “You seem to be, down, worried, stressed lately. What is going on?” “Are you having thoughts that you don’t want to be alive anymore?” “Do you ever think about harming yourself?”

Asking these questions does not give a child the idea for self-harm. The goal is to engage in honest conversation. Here are a few other tips to help you understand what your child is thinking.

Don’t rush the conversation.
A mental health crisis should never be taken lightly. Make sure that you have enough time to fully engage in thoughtful discussion.

Listen and respond without judgement.
Don’t dismiss your child’s feelings as typical teenage moodiness. You could miss key warning signs.

Find out how long the thoughts, feelings, or behaviors have persisted. Anything that lasts more than a few days is worth exploring.

Understand the severity of the symptoms.
Are your child’s behavior patterns being affected? Has their reaction to stress and frustration changed? Is it affecting school and social life?

“Trust your instincts because most young people have trouble expressing their feelings,” says Paul. “Not all communication is verbal, so be mindful of your child’s non-verbal cues, too.”

Four levels of care

There are four levels of care, depending on your child’s needs.

• Outpatient care – talk with your pediatrician, primary care provider, or therapist 
• Intensive outpatient Program – daily therapy sessions 
• Acute partial hospitalization program – full day programming for several weeks
• Inpatient hospitalization – around-the-clock in-hospital support for safety or medical detox

What to expect from an emergency room screening

If you’ve decided to get an assessment by a crisis counselor, an emergency department nurse will take your child’s vital signs, ask medical history, and inquire about suicidal thoughts. A doctor will conduct an exam which may include a urine specimen and bloodwork. The crisis counselor will meet with you and your child to come up with a treatment plan.

“The goal is to keep your child safe,” says Paul. “There are multiple levels of care and if hospitalization is needed, it is a temporary stay where your child’s safety is our top priority until the crisis has passed.”