Roughly 10 percent of individuals with a developmental disability in California also have a mental health condition, or a dual diagnosis. These conditions may cause an individual to become sad, upset or confused. When an individual becomes overwhelmed by these feelings, they may experience a mental health or behavioral crisis. When there is imminent danger, the support person should follow the agency's procedure and policies related to calling 9-1-1 for assistance from the police or paramedics. They will determine if the individual needs treatment at a local psychiatric hospital.
This quarter's newsletter on Preventing Involuntary Psychiatric Admissions expands on the information above with further guidance on warning signs of a psychiatric or behavioral emergency, crisis intervention tips, and examples of stressors.
Print the Fall 2011 newsletter here!
