Introduction A mental health crisis is defined as when a person is in a mental or emotional state where they need urgent help. Crises are different for different people. Someone experiencing a crisis may be highly agitated, panicked, be experiencing thoughts or impulses to self-harm, or be frightened or at risk of physical harm due to a psychotic episode (268). Crisis Youth MHFA will largely focus on Action 1 (Approach the person, assess and assist with any crisis). Remember that you may need to be flexible with the order of the Youth MHFA action plan to suit the needs of the situation. Revisit the Youth MHFA action plan in full. Suicide is the most serious crisis associated with poor mental health, so Youth MHFAiders need to consider it as the highest priority when assessing for crises.
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