Below are programs that provide services for different kinds of crisis situations – copy these numbers and keep them handy – and TIPS on WHAT YOU SHOULD DO.

Psychiatric Emergency Service: A 24-hour facility with capacity to evaluate and treat psychiatric emergencies for both voluntary and involuntary clients. Provides intensive medical oversight, nursing care, medication support, assessment & reassessment, linkage and referral to ongoing mental health services; has general mental health services and case management with the capacity to treat patients for up to 20-23 hours to stabilize an acute crisis.

Provider:
SFGH Psychiatric Emergency Services
1001 Potrero Avenue
Ph: 415-206-8125

Mobile Crisis:
An emergency care provider which provides assessment, general mental health services, intensive case management and medication support, seven days per week, in an effort to ameliorate crisis situations and to divert from Psychiatric Emergency Services OR to facilitate admissions to acute psychiatric hospitals when necessary. Is linked with 911 and other emergency providers. Provides emergency coverage for adult clients of the system. Mobile crisis also provides response for geriatric crisis and HIV crisis after 5 p.m. and on weekends

Provider:
Mobile Crisis Treatment Team
Ph: 415-355-8300

• Mobile Crisis provides emergency crisis intervention services conducted in the field, early intervention in the field before situation escalates to critical crisis point, and consultation services provided to consumers, support systems, mental health providers and shelter providers. Assistance with linkage to outpatient mental health services. It has involuntary treatment evaluation capacity and determination of appropriate level of care. Psychiatry available for short-term medication services. Available to all adult residents (18 - 59 years of age) regardless of insurance.

Crisis Services: Immediate treatment or triage for voluntary individuals suffering from emotional crisis or symptoms of acute psychiatric illness, including symptoms induced by substance abuse and HIV infection. Brief crisis treatment and on-going outpatient care and medication for clients who can remain in the community with medication support. Provides 5150 (involuntary hold and/or treatment under state law) as needed to inpatient hospital care. Linkage to community follow-up and treatment.

Provider:
Westside Crisis Clinic
888 Turk Street at Gough
Ph: 415-353-5050

Suicide Prevention: Telephone counseling and referral for people who are depressed and suicidal. Mental Health and drug service information and referral available 24 hours a day. Drug relapse prevention support available 24 hours a day. Support for those with HIV and AIDS available 5 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Provider:
San Francisco Suicide Prevention
Ph: 415-781-0500

Urgent Care: Brief intervention that is provided in cases of non-emergent but stressful conditions which require contact within 24 hours. Services include: assessment, general mental health services, case management and medication support.

Provider:
Westside Crisis Clinic and select Outpatient Clinic.

What should you do in an emergency?
Control Yourself – don't shout into the phone or at arriving officers or medical professionals. They can't understand you if you shout.

On the phone: Be ready to give concrete examples of the dangerous behaviors and to support your contention that the person is mentally ill. For example, say, "My daughter pulled a knife" as opposed to "My daughter wants to kill me."

State over the phone the following information and be ready to repeat it to arriving police officers and/or medical professionals:

• Your name.
• Your address.
• Family member's name.
• Your relationship.
• That the person is mentally ill and give the diagnosis.
• State whether medications are being used, whether it was stopped and when was the last time the meds were taken.
• Describe what your family member is doing now.
• Say whether you feel threatened.
• Say whether your family member is hearing voices or fears someone.
• Say whether a weapon is in the house --- to minimize further agitation, remove any guns from the house before the police arrive
• Say where inside the house is your family member
• Say whether there is a history of violence

Until professionals arrive, you must STAY CALM and:

• Be polite, respectful, reassuring, low-key and direct with your family member.
• Maintain on-going communication directly with the person and do not include others in side conversations.
• Do not try to trick or deceive your family member.
• Avoid immediately moving in close or touching the person unless necessary.
• Remove all objects with which a person may do harm to self or others.

When professionals arrive:

• Have all the lights on inside the house.
• Identify yourself.
• Carry nothing in your hands especially coming outside to meet them, in which case walk, don't run to meet them.
• Don't ramble.
• Be prepared to repeat the information you gave over the phone.
• State whether there is a history of suicide attempts.
• State whether your family member is violent or delusional.
• Have treating psychiatrist's phone number handy.