Emergency Procedures: Health or Mental Health Emergency

For life threatening emergencies, call 911.

A mental health emergency is a life threatening situation in which an individual is imminently threatening harm to self or others, severely disoriented or out of touch with reality, has a severe inability to function, or is otherwise distraught and out of control.

Examples of a Mental Health Emergency include:

Acting on a suicide threat
Homicidal or threatening behavior
Self-injury needing immediate medical attention
Severely impaired by drugs or alcohol
Highly erratic or unusual behavior that indicates very unpredictable behavior and/or an inability to care for themselves.

Suggestions for What to Do in Case of a Mental Health Emergency-Call 911.

Mental Health Crisis

A mental health crisis is a non-life threatening situation in which an individual is exhibiting extreme emotional disturbance or behavioral distress, considering harm to self or others, disoriented or out of touch with reality, has a compromised ability to function, or is otherwise agitated and unable to be calmed.

Examples of a Mental Health Crisis include:

Talking about suicide threats
Talking about threatening behavior
Self-injury, but not needing immediate medical attention
Alcohol or substance abuse
Highly erratic or unusual behavior
Eating disorders
Not taking their prescribed psychiatric medications
Emotionally distraught, very depressed, angry or anxious

Suggestions for What to Do in Case of a Mental Health Crisis

Help is available from the Colorado Department of Human Services at (303) 761-1977.