| ### Immediate Care for Handling Mental Health Crisis | |
| What is Immediate Care? | |
| 1. Immediate care is a humane, supportive response to individuals experiencing distress, aiming to provide immediate help until professional assistance is available or the crisis is resolved. | |
| 2. It is accessible to all, not limited to mental health professionals. | |
| 3. While it offers immediate support, it is not a substitute for professional counseling. | |
| Importance of Immediate Care | |
| 1. Mental health disorders can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, or socioeconomic status. | |
| 2. Myths about mental health hinder people from seeking treatment and care. | |
| 3. Stigma surrounding mental health disorders deprives individuals of accessing healthcare, basic rights, job opportunities, and dignity. | |
| 4. Individuals with mental health issues may lack insight into their condition, normalizing their crisis and delaying help. | |
| 5. Many face challenges in accessing mental health professionals during a crisis due to insufficient knowledge about available resources. | |
| 6. Empowering community members with crisis intervention skills minimizes impact and fosters a supportive environment. | |
| Difference between Immediate Care and Psychological First Aid (PFA) | |
| - Immediate Care: | |
| 1. Addresses short-term crises and everyday stressors. | |
| 2. Community-based and easily accessible. | |
| - Psychological First Aid (PFA): | |
| 1. Targets severe, long-lasting problems. | |
| 2. Requires trained professionals and controlled environments. | |
| Who Can Provide Immediate Care? | |
| - Community members | |
| - Mental health professionals | |
| - Police | |
| - Emergency medical teams | |
| - Counselors | |
| - Neighbors | |
| - NGOs | |
| - Relatives or family members | |
| What is Mental Health Crisis? | |
| 1. Intense physical and emotional stress, difficulty coping, and inability to function effectively. | |
| 2. Any situation where a person's behavior puts them at risk of hurting themselves or others. | |
| Life Span Model of Mental Health Crisis | |
| - Childhood: Bullying, separation from parents, parental disharmony, peer pressure, child abuse, sibling rivalry, academic pressure, physical illness/disability, death of a family member. | |
| - Adolescence: Identity crisis, sexual abuse, menarche, body image issues, substance use, relationship failures, technology addiction, career issues. | |
| - Young Adulthood: Migration, higher education, technology addiction, loss of job, loss of loved ones, workplace stress, pregnancy-related events, marital issues, career issues, parenting, financial issues. | |
| - Middle Age: Family issues, divorce, death of spouse, physical illness, children's marriage decisions, property issues, health issues, empty nest. | |
| - Old Age: Retirement, health issues, dependency, caregiving, loss of spouse, stress of unfinished business, issues in interpersonal relationships, isolation, social support, mobility. | |
| Immediate Care During Disasters | |
| 1. Common Reactions: | |
| - Emotional: Sadness, crying spells, anxiety, irritability, mood swings, hopelessness, sensitivity to criticism, anger, aggression. | |
| - Physical: Tiredness, increased heartbeat, sweating, shaking, weight changes, headaches, body aches, digestive problems. | |
| - Behavioral: Social withdrawal, changes in sleep or appetite, increased substance use, acting out of character. | |
| - Cognitive: Difficulty concentrating, racing thoughts, forgetfulness, negative thinking patterns. | |
| How to Approach Someone in Crisis | |
| 1. Notice signs and approach with care to establish rapport. | |
| 2. Engage the person in conversation about what could be bothering them. | |
| 3. Allow the person to choose when to open up. | |
| 4. Express concern and willingness to help. | |
| 5. Respect how the person interprets their symptoms. | |
| 6. Give full attention and listen without interrupting. | |
| 7. Avoid giving simple, unrealistic reassurances. | |
| Anatomy of a First Aider | |
| - Face the speaker, keep open posture, lean slightly forward, maintain eye contact. | |
| - Avoid physical contact unless appropriate, maintain respectful distance. | |
| - Building skills: undivided concentration, mindful presence, nonverbal cues, active listening. | |
| - Empathy: Express care, supportive statements, ask questions, paraphrase, acknowledge emotions. | |
| - Be non-judgmental: Treat with respect, avoid evaluative comments, maintain a neutral facial expression. | |
| Clarifying Confidentiality | |
| - Reflect the speaker's words and feelings to ensure correct understanding. | |
| - Summarize what has been shared to clarify. | |
| - Always ask for permission before sharing any information. | |
| Probing Skills | |
| - Use open-ended questions to encourage exploration. | |
| - Avoid "why" questions, use pauses or silence. | |
| - Emphasize "I" messages over "you" messages. | |
| What Immediate Care is Not | |
| - It is not obtaining details of traumatic experiences, treating, labeling or diagnosing, counseling, or something only professionals can do. | |
| Don'ts in Immediate Care | |
| - Do not pressure someone to tell their story. | |
| - Do not interrupt or rush the story. | |
| - Do not give simple, unrealistic reassurances. | |
| - Do not give false promises or minimize their loss. | |
| - Do not touch if unsure, and avoid criticizing existing services in front of people in need. | |