• WHAT IS A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS?

    Everyone goes through rough patches, so how do you know when your situation has reached the level of "crisis?" Here are risk factors to take very seriously:

    Thoughts - Recurrent thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life. This includes passive thoughts of wishing you could go to sleep and not wake up.

    Plan - Making a plan to harm yourself that details how you would go about taking your life.

    Means - Having access to the means to go through with your plan.

    Intent - Committing to going through with your plan to harm yourself or take your life.

    Other factors that suggest seeking immediate help include having hallucinations, dangerous substance use, eating disorder symptoms, depression or severe mental illness symptoms that impact your ability to take care of your basic needs.

    WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM FEELING UNSAFE?

    You have options depending upon how high your risk level is and based on your willingness to take steps to decrease your risk.

    If you call your therapist, they may want to meet with you immediately, may provide phone coaching, or may determine that your risk level requires you be evaluated at a hospital.

    If you do not currently have a therapist or if your therapist is unavailable, the following resources can provide emergency mental health care:

    Wake County

    Holly Hill Hospital 24/7 Assessment Center
    800-447-1800

    Alliance Behavioral Healthcare
    800-510-9132

    Therapeutic Alternatives Mobile Crisis Team
    877-626-1772

    UNC Health Care at Wakebrook
    919-150-1260

    Durham County

    Durham Recovery Response Center (24/7 crisis center)
    800-510-9132
    alliancehealthplan.org/consumers-families/crisis-and-access/crisis-facilities

    Carolina Outreach Behavioral Health Urgent Care (emergency psychiatry + counseling appointments, medication refills)
    carolinaoutreachbhuc.com

    Alliance Behavioral Healthcare
    800-510-9132

    Freedom House Recovery Center Mobile Crisis Team
    919-797-1865

    Freedom House Recovery Center
    919-560-7305

    Craven County

    Trillium Health Resources
    877-685-2415

    RHA Behavioral Health services (a Mobile Crisis Team)
    877-742-6268

    Port Human Services
    252-672-8742

    Please note that calling 911 and visiting your local emergency room are also options to receive emergency mental health care, regardless of location.

    WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE HOSPITALIZED FOR SAFETY?

    The thought of going to the hospital for a mental health emergency can seem scary. Knowing what to expect can help.

    Voluntary Commitment

    When you go to the hospital of your own choice, you will be assessed by a counselor, social worker, or nurse with training in mental health issues. They will determine whether you are at imminent risk for self harm. If your assessment provider decides you probably aren't safe to leave, they will recommend hospitalization and start the commitment process. Things to expect:

    • You will not be able to keep your cell phone or other personal items (jewelry, any clothing with ties, belts, etc) with you at the hospital.

    • You will likely be given a urine drug screen as standard procedure.

    • You may have to wait in an ER setting for several hours.

    • Ability to contact loved ones and supports may be limited after you are admitted.

    • You may be transported to another facility if there is not room at the hospital.

    • Depending on your level of need you may be placed on a 72 hour hold, or recommended for longer term care up to two weeks.

    Things to bring:

    • Clothes

    • List of medications and actual medication. If you are taking oral contraceptives, be sure to bring your pills with you. Staff will likely hold them rather than let you keep them, but they will administer your birth control pills.

    • List of phone numbers of family, friends, supports, other providers that you may want to contact while you are in the hospital

    Involuntary Commitment

    If you communicate that you are feeling unsafe, but are not willing to go to the hospital, you may qualify for an involuntary commitment. Your therapist or loved one may call 9-1-1, or Community Intervention Team (a group of police officers that are trained to intervene in mental health emergencies) and let them know they are concerned for your safety. Police officers or sheriffs are then dispatched to find you, and will help get you to the nearest hospital for evaluation.

    In the hospital, you will meet with an individual therapist, have group therapy, unstructured time, and meet with a psychiatrist at regular intervals.

    WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I GET OUT OF THE HOSPITAL?

    You will meet with the same team regularly while you are in the hospital, and they will help to coordinate a discharge plan. If you are currently meeting with a therapist, your discharge coordinator will contact that therapist to make sure you have an appointment for when you get out. You may also be recommended to a different level of care such as a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) or Intensive Outpatient Therapy Program (IOP).

    *big thanks to Creasman Counseling for the above text and resources

  • Durham Co. Dept. of Social Services - Crisis Services

    Entry Point Durham

    No Kid Hungry NC

    Free Meals for Children
    English: text FOODNC to 877-877
    Spanish: text COMIDA to 877-877

    Critical Workers Seeking Child Care Options Hotline
    (888) 600-1685

    NC Unemployment

    Durham Rent Relief

    LGBTQ Center of Durham - Project FAM
    *housing assistance, case management, survivor support services for LGBTQ+ folx

  • Durham Crisis Response Center

    Orange Co. Rape Crisis Center

    InterAct of Wake County

  • NC Dept. of Health + Human Services
    *COVID Testing, Vaccines, etc.

    Community Love Direct Primary Care
    *LGBTQ-affirming, fat-positive, English + Spanish speaking primary care

    Avance Primary Care on Chapel Hill (formerly Mosaic Comprehensive Care)
    *LGBTQ-affirming, Health At Every Size primary care, gynecology, + eating disorder care

    Duke Adult Gender Care

    Duke Child + Adolescent Gender Care

    UNC Pediatric + Adolescent. Clinic for Gender Wellness

    UNC Transgender Health

  • Lutz, Alexander + Associates
    *Health At Every Size nutrition therapy

    Tomata
    *Weight-inclusive nutrition for families

  • Trans + Gender Nonconforming Therapists of North Carolina

    Health at Every Size Practitioners of North Carolina

    NC Art Therapy Association

    Critical Pedagogy in the Arts Therapies

    Black Art Therapist Network

    Art Therapy Credentials Board

    American Art Therapy Association

    American Counseling Association

    National Queer + Trans Therapists of Color Network

    Partnership for a Healthy Durham

 

MEDITATION + MINDFULNESS RESOURCES

Insight Timer Mindfulness App
www.insighttimer.com

Headspace Mindfulness App
www.headspace.com