Crisis Intervention

Toolkit
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Hello and welcome to ICANotes Mental Health Crisis

Intervention Toolkit. Mental health can present
challenging times for both individuals seeking
support and mental health professionals providing
excellent care to their clients. This toolkit has been
carefully designed and crafted to serve as a reliable
resource, offering easy strategies to navigate through
moments of mental health crises.

At ICANotes, we understand that mental health crises

can manifest in a number of ways, affecting
individuals differently. This toolkit is here to provide
guidance and support.

For Individuals Seeking Help:

Navigating mental health challenges can be an

overwhelming experience. We acknowledge the
courage it takes for individuals to reach out for
assistance. As a mental health professional, your role
in supporting individuals during mental health crises
is invaluable. This toolkit serves as a comprehensive
guide, providing you with resources and protocols to
aid in crisis intervention. It aims to enhance your
ability to assist individuals in developing personalized
crisis management plans and accessing the support
they need.

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Toolkit Objectives:

Empowerment: The toolkit is designed to empower

individuals to take an active role in their mental health
by providing them with actionable strategies and
resources.

Collaboration: For therapists, it fosters a collaborative

approach to crisis intervention, encouraging open
communication and joint planning with clients.

Education: Both individuals and therapists can benefit

from educational materials included in the toolkit,
promoting a better understanding of mental health
crises and effective coping mechanisms.

Navigating Mental Health Crises:

Understanding that each person's experience is unique,

the toolkit addresses the multifaceted nature of mental
health crises. It emphasizes the importance of
personalized approaches and collaboration between
individuals and their therapists to create effective crisis
management plans.

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Crisis De-Escalation

In crisis intervention and mental health support, non-

verbal communication is often as important as or even
more important than verbal communication. Non-
verbal cues are often universal and can transcend
language barriers.

Body language, gestures, and facial expressions are

recognized as powerful factors in influencing an
individual's emotional state, along with building trust
and rapport.

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Sincere facial expressions or a soothing gesture can

convey a sense of shared emotion and connection.
During crisis situations, it is important for the mental
health professional to stay calm, as anxiety breeds
anxiety.

Tone is also highly important, so use a soft and steady

voice to convey calmness. Show clients how to deep
breathe or relax through your own actions.

Non-verbal cues, such as nodding, can be used to

demonstrate patience and understanding. Remember,
what you do is often more important in helping the
crisis than what you say.

In a crisis situation, it is crucial to evaluate how your

client or patient is feeling. We recommend using
evidence-based assessment tools like the Columbia
Suicide Severity Rating Scale (CSSRS).

Sometimes it is hard to ask the tough questions to

assess if individuals are thinking about self harm or
harming others. It is important that a mental health
professional also investigates if an individual has a plan
for self harm.

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The following questions can be asked when an

individual is in crisis:

Do you feel a sense of hopelessness about the

future?
Are you contemplating harming yourself or others?
Have you thought about hurting yourself?
Can you tell me what you're feeling right now?
Do you have a specific plan for self-harm or suicide?
Have you been using alcohol or drugs since you
have been having these feelings?
Are there friends or family members who are aware
of your current struggles?
What coping strategies or techniques have you
been using?
Are you presently in a safe environment?
Your safety is important to me. Can we talk about
what we can do to keep you safe right now?
Have you thought about a way that you would hurt
yourself?

In order to navigate and alleviate heightened emotions,

mental health professionals use verbal techniques.

By listening to the individual's concerns and validating

their emotions, therapists can verbally express empathy
and actively listen.

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Providing verbal reassurances, such as acknowledging

the person's feelings and assuring them of a supportive
environment, contribute significantly to diffusing a
crisis.

Offering open-ended questions and providing clients

with an opportunity to express themselves can foster a
sense of agency and control. Verbal cues complement
non-verbal cues, reinforcing a holistic approach that
incorporates both spoken and unspoken
communication.

Ultimately, this integrated strategy enhances the

therapeutic relationship, establishes trust, and lays the
foundation for effective crisis intervention.

The following verbal questions are intended to de-

escalate clients during a crisis:

I can see that you're feeling really overwhelmed

right now, can we talk more about how you are
feeling?
I'm here to listen and support you through this.
I can hear that this is really challenging for you.
You're not alone in this. We can navigate through it
together.
Let's take a few deep breaths together.

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What are some coping strategies that have helped

you in the past? We can try those together.
It's understandable that life can be challenging. We
can figure this out together.
I've seen your resilience in our previous sessions. We
can tap into that strength now.
Let's create a plan together for when you're feeling
overwhelmed.

In the subsequent sections, we will delve into

emergency contacts, personalized safety plans,
therapist assistance guides, crisis management
resources, and self-care strategies. Each section is
tailored to provide specific tools and information
relevant to the unique needs of those seeking help and
therapists offering support.

Thank you for entrusting us with your mental health

journey. Together, we can navigate through the
challenges and work towards fostering a resilient and
supportive mental health community.

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Emergency Contact List

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Crisis Text Line: Text "HELLO" to 741741

Veterans Crisis Line: Call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1

SAMHSA National Helpline (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services

Administration):Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

National Domestic Violence Hotline: Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline: Call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)

Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ Youth): Call 1-866-488-7386 or text "START" to 678678

Disaster Distress Helpline: Call 1-800-985-5990 or text "TALKWITHUS" to 66746

Teen Line: Call 1-310-855-4673 or text "TEEN" to 839863

National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) Helpline: Call 1-800-931-2237

National Sexual Assault Hotline: Call 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)

National Child Abuse Hotline: Call 1-800-4-A-CHILD (422-4453)

National Parent Helpline: Call 1-855-4A-PARENT (427-2736)

Trans Lifeline: Call 1-877-565-8860

Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Center (CISPC): Call 1-800-273-TALK

(8255)

National Runaway Safeline: Call 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929)

Postpartum Support International: Call 1-800-944-4773

National LGBTQ+ Hotline: Call 1-888-843-4564

National Youth Crisis Hotline: Call 1-800-442-HOPE (4673)

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988

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negative thought journal

You don’t have to be stuck in a negative spiral. Find out which distractions can help you
redirect your thoughts away from distressing feelings and back to the present. Write
down in detail how these strategies will work for you.

Negative Distraction Effects of These

Thoughts Techniques Techniques

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Example Worksheet

Emotional Triggers Coping Skills

TIREDNESS GET SOME REST

BEING HUNGRY HAVE A SNACK

STOPPING A FUN PUT ON SOME

ACTIVITY MUSIC OR A SHOW

FRUSTRATION BOUNCE OR KICK A

BALL

READ A SELF HELP

ANXIETY
BOOK

HUG A FRIEND OR
REJECTION
FAMILY MEMBER

DO SOME KID-
FEELING UNWANTED
FRIENDLY YOGA

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Emotional Triggers Coping Skills

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emotional regulation worksheet

Week of:

mONDAY

tuesDAY

wednesDAY

thursDAY

friDAY

saturDAY

sunDAY

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 SELF CARE CHECKLIST

M T W T F S S

Take a Bath

Go for a Walk

Call a Friend

Get Coffee

Meditate

Journal

Act of Kindness

Write Down Goals

Read a Book

Say Something Nice About

Yourself Outloud
7-8 hours of sleep

EMOTIONS AND THOUGHTS

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 mindfulness handout
Observe, Feel Breathe, Accept and Absorb
Practicing mindfulness involves being fully present and engaged in the present moment without judgment.
Mindfulness involves cultivating awareness of your thoughts, feelings, and surroundings. In this handout, we
introduce five key elements of mindfulness: Observe, Feel, Breathe, Accept, and Absorb. By incorporating
these into your daily life, you can improve your overall well-being and resilience.

Observe
Definition: Being in the present moment, without attachments or
judgments, without attaching any value to your thoughts, feelings,

1
or environment.
Practice: Spend a few minutes observing your surroundings. Take
note of colors, shapes, and sounds. You should be aware of your
thoughts without getting caught up in them. Observe without
judging.
Benefits: Promotes awareness, reduces automatic reactions, and
improves present-moment understanding.

Feel
Definition: Having the ability to recognize and experience your

2
emotions without judgement.
Practice: Get in touch with your emotions. In this moment, identify
your feelings. Allow yourself to experience the sensations without
attempting to change them.
Benefits: Promotes emotional intelligence, understanding
reactions, and self-compassion.

Breathe
Definition: Focusing on your breath as a way to anchor yourself in

3
the present.
Practice: Breathe slowly and deeply. Pay attention to the sensation
of your breath entering and leaving your body. Observe the rhythm
and pace.
Benefits: Reduces stress, calms the nervous system, and promotes
groundedness.

Accept
Definition: Accepting and embracing one's experiences, regardless

4 of their discomfort.
Practice: Accept and acknowledge your thoughts and feelings
without resisting them. Be with what is, without judgment.
Benefits: Enhances resilience, reduces internal conflict, and
promotes non-judgmental behavior.

Absorb
Definition: Engaging fully in positive experiences and savoring

5 them.
Practice: Spend time doing enjoyable things. Enjoy the positive
sensations and pay attention to the details.
Benefits: Promotes gratitude and enhances appreciation for
positive moments.

Incorporating observe, feel, breathe, accept, and absorb into your daily life can transform the way you
navigate challenges and experience moments of joy. Remember, mindfulness is a skill that develops with
practice. Be patient and compassionate with yourself as you cultivate these habits.
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 SAFETY PLAN
List three warning signs to look for when you begin to feel unwell:

1. __________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. __________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. __________________________________________________________________________________________________

List three people you can reach out to if you are feeling down:

Being around people you identify with helps to destress you and makes you feel better. It can be anyone that
helps, whether it is in person, by phone, by text, or online.

1. __________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. __________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. __________________________________________________________________________________________________

If you don’t want to talk to anyone, list things you can do for yourself to feel better:

Examples: Take a walk, listen to music, take a bath, play video games, read a book, deep breathing, or meditation.

1. __________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. __________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. __________________________________________________________________________________________________

Make a list of professionals or agencies you can contact for help:

1. __________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. __________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. __________________________________________________________________________________________________

List of numbers to call during a crisis:

● 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, dial 988
● National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
● Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
● National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
● National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
● The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ youth crisis intervention): 1-866-488-7386
● Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255, press 1
● Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
● National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline: 1-800-950-6264

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