Severe psychotic states cont.
great height, or they may run through traffic to try to escape from terrifying hallucinations. Crisis Youth MHFA Revisit the Youth MHFA action plan in full. Assess for the help of emergency services. Sometimes it is not possible to de-escalate the situation. If this is the case, you should call 999 for help from emergency services. Describe the young person’s concerning behaviour clearly. Stay with the young person until help arrives. When any unfamiliar helpers arrive, explain to the young person who they are and how they are going to help. If your concerns about the young person are dismissed by the services you contact, you should persevere in trying to seek help for them. Maintain safety for yourself and others. Don’t argue, threaten, shout, or express irritation. Remember that your primary goal is to de-escalate the situation. The young person might be very frightened and be acting on a hallucination or delusion. Try to create a calm, non-threatening atmosphere. Talk slowly, quietly, firmly, and simply. Keep the environment free from distractions (for example, turn off the television or radio). Don’t get too close to or touch the young person and avoid direct eye contact – it may also make them feel hemmed in and threatened. Communicate in a clear concise way. It is important to use short, simple sentences. Speak quietly in a calm tone of voice at a moderate pace. Focus on their emotional responses. Don’t pretend that the delusions or hallucinations are real for you. You could say, “I understand that you see things that way, but it’s not like that for
Page 308
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker