The Do’s and Don’ts of Supporting Someone in a Mental Health Crisis

Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, Ph.D., CRNP —

DON’T: Make decisions without their consent

Set reasonable expectations upfront

DON’T: Blame or shame

DO: Name your needs and boundaries clearly

DON’T: Personalize their behavior

No one chooses to be in crisis, and a mental health crisis is not an accurate reflection of who someone is.

Kindly step back when you need to