When someone you love is experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, the situation can feel chaotic, scary, and overwhelming. You may be trying to keep them safe while also struggling to understand what’s happening and what steps you should take next. Families often feel caught between wanting to respect their loved one’s independence and needing to act quickly to prevent harm.
In these moments, it’s important to remember that you are not alone. A crisis is not just an emotional event, it’s a point where legal options, emergency services, and professional support can provide real protection. This guide outlines what a crisis truly means, the actions you can take right away, and how to navigate the legal tools available to help your loved one.
Understanding What a Crisis Really Means
A mental health or substance use crisis is more than a difficult moment, it’s a point where a person’s safety, judgment, or ability to function is significantly compromised. Crises often appear suddenly, but they can also build over time as symptoms intensify or stressors pile up. For families, the shift from “concerning behavior” to “urgent danger” can feel abrupt, even when the warning signs have been present for days, weeks, or months.
A crisis may involve severe mood changes, threats of self-harm, aggression, erratic behavior, delusions, intoxication, or an inability to care for basic needs. What makes it a crisis is the immediate risk: the situation requires quick action to prevent harm to the person or those around them. In these moments, loved ones often feel overwhelmed, unsure whether to intervene, call for help, or hope the situation resolves on its own.
Understanding that a crisis is both an emotional and medical emergency is the first step toward taking effective action. Recognizing the signs early, trusting your instincts, and knowing that it’s okay to seek outside help can make all the difference in protecting your loved one’s safety and wellbeing.
First Steps to Take When a Crisis Happens
When a crisis unfolds, it can be difficult to think clearly. Emotions run high, the situation may escalate quickly, and you may feel pressure to make immediate decisions. Focusing on a few key steps can help you stay grounded and respond in a way that prioritizes safety.
Start by Assessing the Immediate Danger
If your loved one is threatening self-harm, exhibiting violent behavior, severely intoxicated, or experiencing intense delusions or hallucinations, treat the situation as an emergency. Make sure you are in a safe location and remove any objects that could cause harm if possible. Trust your instincts, if something feels unsafe, it likely is.
Communicate in a Calm, Non-Confrontational Way
Speak slowly, use simple sentences, and avoid arguing or challenging their perceptions. Your goal isn’t to fix the situation at the moment but to reduce tension and keep things as stable as possible until help arrives.
Contact Appropriate Support
For urgent emergencies, calling 911 may be necessary, especially when there is an imminent risk of harm. If the situation is serious but not immediately dangerous, consider reaching out to local crisis hotlines, mobile crisis teams, mental health professionals, or trusted community resources. These teams are trained to de-escalate situations and provide guidance on what to do next.
Gather Key Information
If you need to involve emergency responders, it helps to have details ready, your loved one’s diagnoses (if known), medications, recent behavioral changes, and any concerning statements or actions. Sharing this information clearly can help responders make safer, more informed decisions.
Taking these initial steps doesn’t solve the crisis on its own, but it creates a safer environment and lays the groundwork for the medical, legal, and emotional support your loved one may need next.
Navigating Your Legal Options in a Crisis
When a loved one is in crisis, legal tools can become essential in ensuring their safety and securing the care they urgently need. Many families hesitate to involve the legal system because they worry it feels punitive or extreme, but in reality, these options exist to protect vulnerable individuals who cannot recognize their own need for help.
The Marchman Act is designed for situations where substance use has become dangerous or unmanageable. This Florida law allows families to petition the court for an assessment, stabilization, and, if necessary, longer-term treatment when a person is unable or unwilling to seek help on their own. It’s not a criminal process, instead, it provides a structured path toward care, helping families protect their loved one while connecting them with the treatment they need.
The Baker Act applies when a loved one is experiencing a mental health crisis that poses an immediate risk of harm to themselves or others. It authorizes a temporary, involuntary psychiatric evaluation to determine the severity of the crisis and the appropriate care. While law enforcement or medical professionals typically initiate the Baker Act, families play a critical role by providing information about behaviors and risks. This legal tool is intended to prevent immediate harm and ensure rapid access to stabilization services.
Guardianship is a longer-term legal option for individuals whose chronic mental illness, cognitive impairment, or severe substance use prevents them from consistently making safe, informed decisions. Unlike emergency holds, guardianship grants a responsible adult authority to make decisions regarding medical care, daily needs, and financial matters. It is usually considered when repeated crises occur or less restrictive interventions have failed, providing stability and ongoing protection for vulnerable loved ones.
Before filing any petition, it’s important to understand what the law requires, what evidence you may need, and how the process will unfold. Consulting with a qualified attorney can help you determine which legal options are appropriate, what steps to take, and how to protect your loved one’s rights throughout the process. Having knowledgeable guidance can ease the stress of these decisions and ensure that the actions you take support your loved one’s long-term wellbeing.
Working With Law Enforcement and Emergency Responders
During a crisis, law enforcement and emergency responders play a vital role in ensuring safety and connecting your loved one with immediate care. When they arrive, stay calm and briefly explain what led to the crisis, any threats of harm, recent behavioral changes, and relevant mental health or substance use history. If your community has Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)–trained officers, they are specifically trained to de-escalate mental health and substance use emergencies; you can ask dispatch if a CIT officer is available. Clearly communicate any safety concerns, such as access to weapons or medications, and then allow responders to take the lead. Your insight helps them make informed decisions, but stepping back once you’ve shared essential information can reduce tension and support a safer, more effective response.
Supporting Your Loved One Through the Aftermath of a Crisis
The period after a crisis is often just as important as the crisis itself. Once the immediate danger has passed, your loved one may feel overwhelmed, ashamed, or unsure of what to do next. This is when ongoing compassionate support becomes crucial. Encourage them to stay connected with family, friends, classmates, coworkers, or others they trust. Regular meaningful interactions can reduce isolation and help them regain a sense of stability and belonging.
Ongoing professional support is equally important. Therapy, counseling, and support groups provide space to process what happened, learn new coping strategies, and build a long-term plan for recovery. Whether through individual therapy, peer groups like AA or NA, or other community resources, consistent engagement can prevent future crises and strengthen their resilience. Recovery takes time, and your continued support, combined with professional guidance and social connection, can make all the difference in helping your loved one move forward.
When to Seek Legal Guidance for Ongoing Support
There are times when a single crisis reveals deeper, ongoing challenges that require more than short-term intervention. If your loved one repeatedly refuses treatment, experiences frequent relapses, cycles through crises, or struggles to make safe decisions due to mental illness or substance use, seeking legal guidance can help create long-term stability. An attorney familiar with mental health and substance use law can explain your options, clarify what each process involves, and guide you toward solutions that prioritize safety and respect your loved one’s rights.
Legal support becomes especially important when you’re considering structured options like court-ordered treatment, guardianship, or ongoing monitoring through the court system. These tools can help ensure continuity of care, reduce the likelihood of repeated emergencies, and create a framework that supports your loved one’s recovery. Navigating these systems alone can be overwhelming, but with experienced legal guidance, families can make informed decisions that protect both their loved one and their own wellbeing.
Contact Robinson & Casey for Immediate Support
If you’re facing a crisis with a loved one and aren’t sure what to do next, Robinson & Casey is here to help. Our team provides compassionate, informed guidance on options like the Baker Act, Marchman Act, and guardianship, and we work quickly to help you protect your loved one’s safety and wellbeing.
Reaching out early can make a meaningful difference. Contact Robinson & Casey to discuss your situation, understand your legal options, and take the next step toward securing the support your loved one needs.
