Stay Safe: Managing Crises
Please be aware if you call 911, police are not trained to provide mental health support and may even pose a danger to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, Transgender, Psychiatric disabilities, Neurodivergent, and Disabled People.
If calling 911, ask for someone who is trained in mental health crises.
Essential Steps to Take While Waiting for Help
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Step 1
Grab emergency documents such as safety plan, advanced directives, medical identification, and emergency contact list.
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Step 2
Stall! This can be a good way to buy you more time to diffuse the situation.
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Step 3
Get your advocate(s) or support person(s)!
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Step 4
Contact your lawyer.
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Step 5
Know your rights!
Step 1
Grab these emergency documents:
✓ Safety Plan
Keep this within reach.
✓ Psychiatric Advanced Directive
Keep this within reach.
✓ Medical Identification
✓ Emergency Contact List
Keep this within reach.
Step 2
Stall!
This can be a good way to buy you more time to diffuse the situation, for example:
“I need to grab some water.”
“I need to get my medication/essential items.”
“Let me make a quick call to someone who can help.”
Step 3
Get your advocate(s) or support person(s)!
Reach out to your trusted community leader, family member, neighbor, or friend who can be present if you are calling the police or are with police.
Step 4
Contact your lawyer
Refrain from speaking with public defenders if you know you will have your own legal representation within 24-48 hours. You will need your lawyer for the magistrate/TDO hearing. Learn more →
Step 5
Know that you have a right to:
Bring a support person in almost every setting. Understand that there is a difference between:
Supports Person—someone that helps physically and emotionally assist the patient and ensure effective communication between the hospital staff and the patient
Personal Attendant/Caregiver—a health care professional who provides non medical assistance to individuals.
Remain silent if you wish—you have the right to be represented by your own attorney. If you don't have an attorney, one will be appointed to you.
Have a Temporary Detention Order (TDO) be reversed by a psychiatrist's assessment as soon as possible.
If you need Emergency Response help and have not yet called 911, call these emergency resources
LINES THAT DO NOT CALL POLICE:
📞 Wildflower Alliance Peer Support Line 1-888-407-4515
7pm to 9pm ET Monday through Thursday 7pm to 10pm Friday through Sunday
Peer support line answered by trained peer supporter who has their own first-hand experience with psychiatric diagnosis, trauma, addiction, and/or other interrupting challenges.
📞 CALL BLACKLINE 1-800-604-5841
Provides a space for peer support, counseling, and reporting of mistreatment, witnessing and affirming the lived experiences for folks who are most impacted by systematic oppression with an LGBTQ+ Black Femme Lens. Call BlackLine® prioritizes BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color).
Crisis counseling for those in distress
📞 Trans Lifeline 1-877-565-8860
Operating hours: 1 PM – 9 PM Eastern
Closed on holidays
Peer support phone service run by trans people for our trans and questioning peers. You can call or text if you need someone trans to talk to, even if you’re not in a crisis or if you’re not sure you’re trans.
📞 StrongHearts Native Helpline 1-844-762-8483
24/7
Anonymous, and confidential domestic and sexual violence helpline for Native Americans and Alaska Natives, offering support and advocacy. You can call, text, or chat at anytime
Free services include peer support, crisis intervention, information and education about domestic violence and sexual violence, etc.
📞 LGBT National Help Center 1-888-843-4564
Hotline Hours: Mon – Fri 2PM – 11PM EST Sat- 12PM – 5PM EST
Free confidential peer-support, information, and local resources through national hotlines and online programs. All support volunteers identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ family.
📞 Trevor Project 212-695-8650
or issues such as coming out, identity, depression and suicide.
24/7
Providing crisis care for LGBTQ+ young people. talk to a crisis counseling support via call, chat or text confidentially,
LINES THAT DO CALL POLICE:
📞 Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
to connect with a trained counselor via the Crisis Text Line
📞 Call 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline— Call or text 988 (988 Lifeline)
Individuals can connect with trained crisis counselors who offer confidential assistance. This service is to help anyone experiencing emotional distress or crisis.
📞 CR2 Crisis Response 703-527-4077
Phone call only: not going to deny services in crisis, but will provide connection to local CSB CIC or get you to a hospital.
Call for: aggression or self-harm, thoughts of suicide, threatening behaviors, hallucinations or delusional thinking, substance use, property destruction, extreme social isolation, loss of coping skills, dangerous decision making
Serves Counties of: Arlington, Fairfax, Prince William and Loudoun and
ServesCities of: Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park
📞 711
Connects users to the Virginia Relay service, a free, 24/7 service that enables people who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, or speech-disabled to communicate with standard telephone users.
Important Documents and Definitions
Safety Plan
Who is on your care team? This could include caregivers, doctors, family members, and friends.
Some things to include in a safety plan are:
Identification of your Power of Attorney and/or Legal Guardian
Emergency contact list—this is a list of who to contact for support during a crisis (See Emergency Contact List section below)
A written statement of preferred care or treatment in case of emergency, identification of your Advanced Directives (See Advanced Directive section below)
Ways to make you feel calmer
Before a crisis, discuss your safety plan with your care team. Educate your care team on what your wants and needs are as well as what your triggers are.
If you need help developing your plan, contact ECNV for support!
Psychiatric Advanced Directive
A psychiatric advanced directive is a legal document that contains information about your desired medical care if you are unable to communicate your wishes. Parts of the document outline your end-of-life treatment preference and can tell a healthcare provider which medical treatments you do or do NOT want.
If you have prepared a psychiatric advanced directive, ensure it is accessible in case you need to bring it with you in an emergency.
Before a crisis, discuss your advanced directive with your care team/supports.
If you don’t have a psychiatric advanced directive, reach out to VALegalAid.COM.
Medical Identification
Consider which form of identification is best for you.
Medical ID Card—a card that contains your health information so that it's easily accessible in an emergency. It can include your allergies, medications, insurance information, and emergency contacts
Electronic Medical Identity Card: NFC—A person can "touch" the NFC logo on the back of the card with a compatible phone to access their medical information.
QR Code A unique QR code is linked to a person's medical profile. First responders can scan the QR code with a smartphone to access the person's medical information.
Medical ID Jewelry can be a good way to identify yourself and your needs without posing as a threat. A bracelet or necklace does not require reaching into your pocket, potentially appearing threatening to law enforcement like a medical card might. Please see the link below for more information on medical ID bracelets.
Emergency Contact List
Who to contact for support during a crisis or who can help diffuse the situation?
This can include family members, friends, legal guardians, case managers, power of attorneys, and/or your primary care team members.
Consider also including the contact info for psychiatrists, local emergency departments, protection & advocacy organizations (disAbility Law Center of Virginia), etc.
If you are a bystander, family member, neighbor, or a support person, 911 should be a last resort.
Calling 911 during a mental health crisis can escalate the situation for people with disabilities. If you must call, in Northern Virginia, you must specifically request a CIT-trained officer. If you know the person in crisis, communicate only what is important to humanize your loved one or the individual. Even if you don’t know the individual, try to remain calm and allow trained professionals to provide support. Please avoid intervening unless you are asked to do so.
Arlington County CIT
Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) – Official Website of Arlington County Virginia Government
Fairfax County CIT
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/Chief/Messages/CrisisInterventionTraining
Loudoun County CIT
https://www.loudoun.gov/4476/Crisis-Intervention-Team