Am I In a Mental Health Crisis? How to Know & What to Do

Whether or not what you’re experiencing is considered a “mental health crisis,” what you’re feeling matters. Asking yourself that question is a valid and reasonable first step. Understanding what a mental health crisis can look and feel like may help you recognize signs in yourself or a loved one and determine what kind of support might be needed.

If you think you may be experiencing a crisis, you’re not alone. A 2025 journal article published in Health Affairs Scholar found that nearly 1 in 10 adults reported experiencing a mental health crisis in the previous year. Support is available, and a clinician can help you determine the level of care that’s right for you.

If you’re in immediate danger or experiencing a mental health emergency, call or text 988. If you’re at immediate risk of harming yourself or someone else, or need urgent medical attention, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

In this article, we’ll explain what a mental health crisis is, what signs to look for, and how to determine your next step. We’ll also cover how you can support a loved one who may be experiencing a crisis.

What is a mental health crisis?

A mental health crisis is a point where distress overwhelms a person’s ability to cope, stay safe, or care for themselves. A crisis can happen to anyone, even people who are already following a treatment plan and working closely with mental health practitioners. It can also affect people who have no history of mental health concerns.

When experiencing symptoms of a mental health crisis, some people may ask themselves, “Am I having a breakdown?” “Breakdown” isn’t a clinical diagnosis, but people may use the term to describe feeling unable to cope, function, or manage their emotions.

What are the signs of a mental health crisis?

Signs of a mental health crisis can be emotional and mental, as well as behavioral. While these are common signs, they can differ from person to person, and no single list is exhaustive.

Emotional and mental signs

• Overwhelming hopelessness or helplessness
• Intense anxiety, worry, or frequent panic attacks
• Feeling detached or out of control
• Extreme irritability
• Rapid mood swings, such as being suddenly happy after a period of being low
• Feeling “stuck” or incapacitated
• Paranoia or hallucinations, meaning seeing or hearing things that aren’t there

Behavioral signs

• Withdrawal from school, work, friends, or family
• Inability to complete daily tasks, such as bathing or brushing hair
• Changes in sleeping and eating habits, such as not getting enough sleep or being unable to sleep
• Engaging in risky behavior, such as substance use or reckless driving
• Aggressive or violent behavior
• Finding it difficult to concentrate or make decisions

Signs someone may be thinking about suicide

• Talking about guilt, shame, hopelessness, or being a burden to others
• Unbearable physical or emotional pain
• Researching means or making a plan
• Saying goodbye or giving away important items
• Making or changing a will
• Using drugs or alcohol more often

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If you or a loved one are displaying any of these signs or are thinking about suicide, call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

Am I in crisis or just overwhelmed?

The difference between an active crisis and being overwhelmed depends on the intensity and duration of symptoms, as well as how they impact your safety and functioning. A crisis may develop in response to a specific stressor or trigger. This can be loss, work or school pressure, changing medications, financial strain, or worsening health issues. But a crisis can also develop without a specific trigger. In a crisis, symptoms may become so intense that they affect your ability to function, care for yourself, and keep yourself safe.

Feeling overwhelmed can build over time, especially when ongoing stress or demands begin to exceed your ability to cope. There may be a specific trigger, such as ongoing stress at work, but tasks and stressors can also accumulate until you feel like you’ve “hit a wall.” When you’re feeling overwhelmed but are still able to function, stepping away from the source of stress, taking a break, or using your usual coping strategies may help. If the stress continues or your ability to cope becomes more limited, however, feelings of overwhelm can worsen and may contribute to a crisis. 

If you’re unsure if you’re in a mental health crisis, ask yourself:

• Am I able to keep myself safe right now?
• Can I care for my basic needs (sleeping, eating, hydrating, personal hygiene)?
• Can I think clearly enough to make safe and healthy decisions for myself?
• Are my symptoms getting worse quickly?
• Am I experiencing something dramatically different from my usual thoughts, feelings, and behavior?
• Am I thinking about hurting myself or someone else?
• Do I feel unable to cope without immediate help?

You don’t need to answer “yes” to every question to deserve support. If you’re struggling to care for yourself, function, or cope, reaching out is appropriate.

Even if you’re not in an active crisis, feeling overwhelmed is a valid reason for seeking support. Reaching out early can help to manage how you’re feeling, which can help to prevent a crisis. 

What should I do during a mental health crisis right now?

If you’re wondering what to do in a mental health crisis, focus first on immediate safety and then on getting the right level of support. This level of support depends on what you’re experiencing and your circumstances: 

• If you are worried about the immediate safety of yourself or a loved one, call 911. Tell the operator that you are calling about a mental health emergency and request a crisis intervention team.
• If there is no immediate physical safety concern but urgent help is needed, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. In many areas, you can also request a mobile crisis team through 988, which can offer in-person de-escalation and help determine next steps.
• If you need urgent assessment but are not experiencing an emergency, look for a local mental health or psychiatric urgent care service. These services can provide rapid assessment, stabilization, treatment planning, and referrals to ongoing care. If services aren’t available near you, online crisis stabilization programs, such as those offered by Willow Health, may also be an option for urgent support.
• If you are seeing a mental health professional and notice your symptoms escalating but don’t require immediate support, contact them. They may be able to help you determine if you need a higher level of care and connect you with additional resources.

In addition to seeking help, it can be helpful to:

• Practice deep breathing and grounding techniques: Slow, even breaths and recognizing what’s around you can help calm your body.
• Move to a safer environment: If possible and safe to do so, move away from situations that could put you at risk. If there are potentially dangerous items nearby, ask a trusted friend or family member to secure or remove them. 
• Use a safety plan: If you have a safety plan and are noticing warning signs, follow the steps in your plan.
• Stay with someone you trust: A friend or family member can stay with you, help you get somewhere safe, or support you while you connect with professional help. 
• Reduce stimulation: When you’re experiencing a crisis, sounds, lights, and other stimulation can seem especially overwhelming. If possible and safe, move to a quiet, comfortable environment.

When to go to the ER vs get crisis care

Emergency care is the right call when there’s a medical concern alongside a mental health concern, or when there’s a safety concern. Sometimes, a person will need more support than outpatient care provides but doesn’t need the medical supervision an ER provides. In these situations, sustained crisis stabilization can be the right level of support. Crisis stabilization can look different for each individual, but might involve a crisis stabilization program before transitioning to an intensive outpatient program (IOP) and then traditional outpatient care. 

How to support someone else in crisis

If you’re supporting a loved one in a crisis, it’s important to stay with them, as long as it is safe to do so. You can also call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 for guidance on how to support someone in crisis. Other ways you can help include:

• Listen without judgment: Allow your loved one to talk about what they’re experiencing. Reflecting back what you hear in your own words can help them feel heard and understood. 
• Take safety concerns seriously: If there are potentially dangerous medications, weapons, or other items nearby, ask another trusted person to help secure or remove them when possible. If you believe there is an immediate risk of harm, call 911. 
• Avoid promising secrecy: Let your loved one know that you want to respect their privacy, but that you may need to involve others if you’re concerned about their safety. 
• Avoid minimizing their feelings: Instead of telling them that things will be fine or that they have nothing to worry about, acknowledge what they’re going through and thank them for telling you. 
• Help them connect with professional support: Offer to help them call 988, contact their mental health professional, go to an urgent care program, or access another appropriate source of support. 

How Willow Health can help

Willow Health offers urgent, ongoing virtual crisis support for people in New York State. This service is for those who need more than an ER but can't wait for an IOP. It’s immediately accessible, compassionate help that is available now.

Frequently asked questions

What qualifies as a mental health crisis?

A mental health crisis means there’s a level of distress that overwhelms someone’s ability to cope or stay safe. If you or a loved one are experiencing a mental health crisis, call 911 or the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

Can I have a mental health crisis without wanting to hurt myself?

Yes, you can have a mental health crisis without wanting to hurt yourself. A mental health crisis can lead to intense symptoms like panic, severe anxiety, and feeling detached from yourself or your surroundings. These can make it hard to take care of yourself or cope, even if you have no thoughts of harming yourself.

What number do I call for a mental health crisis?

Call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. This number provides free support from trained counselors 24/7, 365 days per year. 

Is it a crisis if I’ve felt this way for weeks?

Overwhelm can build up over weeks and lead to a crisis. If you've been struggling for weeks, especially if your symptoms are worsening or interfering with daily life, it's a good reason to seek additional support rather than continue to manage it alone. 

What happens after a mental health crisis?

After a mental health crisis, your mental health team and you will create a plan to prevent and manage future changes in your mental health. Often, you’ll transition to outpatient treatment and regular appointments with a psychiatrist if you are taking medication. Your mental health team may also recommend group therapy, peer support, or community-based services to support your recovery.

Sources

Anderson, A., Eisenberg, M. D., Kennedy-Hendricks, A., Castrucci, B. C., Galea, S., & Ettman, C. K. (2025). Mental health crises and help-seeking among US adults in 2024–2025. Health Affairs Scholar, 3(9), qxaf166. https://doi.org/10.1093/haschl/qxaf166 

National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2025). Navigating a mental health crisis: A NAMI resource guide for those experiencing a mental health emergency. https://www.nami.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Navigating-a-Mental-Health-Crisis-2025.pdf