Emergencies don’t always choose “convenient” times to happen, though most might argue that an emergency is never convenient, no matter the time. You never know when someone’s mental health might take a dive, or when someone will decide they want to make a change in their lives. Here at SUN Behavioral Health Delaware, we care a lot about our community, their families, and their well-being. Because of that, our crisis care services are available 24/7.
Whenever a mental health crisis strikes, SUN Behavioral Delaware’s crisis unit is available to admit and stabilize patients 24 hours a day. There is no need to call ahead or schedule an appointment. Skip the emergency room and come straight to SUN at 21655 Biden Ave, Georgetown, DE 19947.
We can help with emergent needs such as:
If a person is physically injured they must go to a medical hospital first or call 911 as we cannot treat physical injuries in our mental health crisis stabilization unit.
Every recovery journey is different, and so is every emergency. This is why we have a few services to suit the needs of our patients when they need them most. There are many ways to address and help someone in a crisis, so knowing the options available is an important step to assisting someone.
Otherwise known as Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD), crisis debriefing is a specific group process that is held after a traumatic event. It’s used to address “crisis incident stress” which is stress and trauma connected with situations such as death, tragedy, or serious injury. CISD can be used for a wide spectrum of traumatic events such as natural disasters, mass shootings, workplace violations, etc.
There are many ways bodies react to stress. OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration) marks certain critical stress reactions such as:
This process is most effective when you follow through with the many steps of crisis debriefing. The American Journal of Managed Care covers several phases that include individual sessions, follow-up care, and support services.
The primary focus of counseling is to offer assistance and support as someone addresses their trauma. It targets triggers of the event and works to overcome them by teaching the patient new skills to better handle them (such as stress reduction techniques and positive thinking).
Crisis counseling comes in many forms, from psychotherapy to assessments and much more. When going through counseling, it is important to be transparent about your problems, emotions, and safety concerns in order to get the most out of your treatment. Doing so allows you and your counselor to best develop action plans and explore other alternatives to best work through the trauma you’re dealing with.
Having a mobile crisis care team can be pivotal in some situations. They are usually composed of qualified, civilian responders such as:
These teams are equipped to address a variety of behavioral health crises. They have on-site intervention resources and are a part of the highest-level response for any psychiatric emergencies. We understand that not all mental health emergencies happen in convenient places, so we’re proud to have this as an option to better serve our community in their time of need.
Crisis hotlines are a very important resource to be aware of. They’re usually available 24/7 and connect you with someone who can talk you through feelings of helplessness, depression, and anxiety. These hotlines have trained professionals or trained volunteers who will talk you through your experience and act as a source of support and comfort.
There’s a lot of power in feeling listened to and understood. These hotlines can help patients on their healing journey in times they need it most.
It’s important to note that crisis hotlines are not meant for medical emergencies, like suicide attempts, overdoses, or physical abuse. If this is the situation you might be in, call for medical help and answer any questions the dispatcher may have.
Life comes with many hurdles and obstacles that we have to overcome. Some of these are bigger than others, and may even be too overwhelming for us to handle on our own. Every day another person is discovering a new way that their trauma or mental health might be impacting their lives. This is why SUN wants to give patients the tools they need to overcome their obstacles and struggles.
We help our patients and community learn about mental health, substance use, and other situations in order to help them thrive. We teach everything from coping mechanisms to how to identify triggers, and we work to educate patients about potential medications that can help.
Crisis care is constantly evolving alongside humanity in order to better suit your needs. The United States has created The National Guidelines for Crisis Care, which is a resource that advances regulations in crisis management within support programs.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) say these are the core elements of a good crisis system:
A behavioral crisis is a situation where you or a loved one feels additional help or support is needed. This can vary from person to person. If your depression is feeling worse than normal and you’re considering harmful thoughts, or if you have a panic attack that you need support in recovering from, it could be considered a behavioral crisis. It’s important to know that if you feel like the situation requires help, you should seek out that help.
We offer a variety of services in order to best suit the needs of our community in times of crisis. From a mobile crisis team to counseling and support groups, SUN is available and ready to help.
Yes, sometimes nervous breakdowns are considered a crisis. Not all nervous breakdowns are equal – some are manageable while others require immediate attention.
Here at SUN Behavioral Delaware, we take crisis intervention very seriously. We can help patients and their families recognize and de-escalate situations while also offering assistance to anyone dealing with a mental health crisis. If you or a loved one needs help, call us now at 302-604-5600.