When You’re in Crisis

You Don’t Have to Be in Crisis Alone

If you’re reading this because you’re in active crisis—suicidal thoughts, panic attack, overwhelming distress, thoughts of harming yourself or others—please reach out for immediate support.

You deserve help. You deserve to be here.

Context: November 2025

A lot of people in our community are in crisis right now. This isn’t because something is “wrong” with you - it’s normal human response to living through fascism, government shutdowns, targeting of minorities, and resource scarcity.

What looks like “extra mental health problems” is actually: trauma responses, grief, terror, exhaustion, and the strain of trying to survive while everything falls apart.

You’re not broken. The situation is.

If you need to leave the country: See Emigration Resources

Immediate Crisis Support

If You’re in Immediate Danger

Call 911 if:

If You’re Having Suicidal Thoughts or Severe Distress

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Crisis Text Line

SAMHSA National Helpline (Substance Abuse & Mental Health)

Identity-Specific Crisis Lines

Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ youth under 25)

Trans Lifeline

National Domestic Violence Hotline

RAINN (Sexual Assault)

Peer Warmlines (Alternative to Crisis Lines)

If you want peer support instead of traditional crisis lines:

Wildflower Alliance Peer Support Line

What’s different about peer warmlines:

Search “[your state] warmline” to find local peer support lines.

Full crisis resources: Crisis Resource Appendix

What Crisis Feels Like

Crisis can look different for everyone. You might be in crisis if:

Thoughts:

Feelings:

Physical:

Behavior:

If any of these are happening, you’re in crisis. Reach out.

What to Do Right Now

If You’re Alone

  1. Call/text a crisis line (988, Crisis Text Line, Trevor Project, etc.)
  2. Don’t be alone if possible - Call a friend, family member, trusted person
  3. Get to a safe space - Away from means of self-harm
  4. Ground yourself (see grounding techniques below)
  5. Go to an ER if needed - Emergency rooms can help in psychiatric crisis

If You’re With Someone

  1. Tell them you’re in crisis - “I’m not okay. I need help.”
  2. Ask them to stay with you
  3. Ask them to help you call a crisis line or go to ER
  4. Don’t be alone

If You Don’t Feel Safe at Home

Grounding Techniques (When You’re Panicking/Dissociating)

5-4-3-2-1 Technique

Name:

This brings you back to your body and the present moment.

Physical Grounding

Mental Grounding

When You’re Suicidal

What You Need to Know

Suicidal thoughts are a symptom, not a character flaw. They mean you’re in unbearable pain and your brain is trying to escape it. They don’t mean you’re weak or broken.

Suicidal thoughts ≠ wanting to die. Often they mean “I want this pain to stop and I can’t see another way.”

Suicidal crises pass. The intensity you feel right now will not last forever, even though it feels permanent.

Safety Planning

Right now, in this moment:

  1. Remove means - Pills, weapons, anything you could use. Give to someone, throw away, lock up, leave the house.
  2. Call someone - Crisis line, friend, family, therapist
  3. Promise yourself 24 hours - Don’t make permanent decisions in temporary pain. Can you wait 24 hours? Then reassess.
  4. Go somewhere safe - ER, friend’s house, public place

Make a crisis safety plan (when you’re NOT in crisis):

Template: 988lifeline.org (search for “safety plan” or ask when you call)

Going to the ER for Mental Health Crisis

When to Go

What to Expect

Good to know:

What to bring (if possible):

Your rights:

Hospitalization

If you’re hospitalized:

Know: Hospitalization is about safety and stabilization, not punishment.

After the Crisis Passes

You Survived. Now What?

First: Be gentle with yourself.

Crisis takes enormous energy. You might feel:

All of this is normal.

Follow-Up

  1. Connect with ongoing support
    • Therapist
    • Psychiatrist (if medication might help)
    • Support group
    • Crisis follow-up services
  2. Update your safety plan
    • What worked? What didn’t?
    • What warning signs did you notice?
  3. Tell someone you trust
  4. Address root causes
    • Crisis is a symptom
    • What needs to change? (therapy, medication, life situation, boundaries)

Prevent Future Crises

Build your support system:

Identify your triggers:

Practice coping skills when you’re NOT in crisis:

If Someone You Know Is in Crisis

What to Do

  1. Take it seriously - Believe them. Don’t minimize.
  2. Ask directly - “Are you thinking about suicide?”
  3. Listen without judgment
  4. Don’t leave them alone - Stay with them or ensure someone else is
  5. Help them get help - Call crisis line together, take them to ER
  6. Remove means - Pills, weapons, anything harmful
  7. Follow up - Check in after crisis passes

What NOT to Do

You are not responsible for keeping them alive. You can support, but you cannot control another person’s choices. Get professional help involved.

Multiverse School & Crisis

What Multiverse Can Offer

What Multiverse Can’t Offer

If you’re in crisis, connect with professional crisis resources first (988, crisis line, ER). Then let Multiverse know how we can support you.

Boundaries

Facilitators care about you AND have limits. We will:

We won’t:

This isn’t rejection. It’s sustainability.

See: How Multiverse Works

You Matter

If you’re reading this in crisis: Please reach out.

988 - Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Text HOME to 741741 - Crisis Text Line

You deserve support. You deserve to be here. You are not alone.

See Also: