In Crisis?

These signs can help determine if you or someone you know is in crisis or needs urgent attention. When in doubt, make the call for help. 

• Suicidal thoughts, intent, plan, and/or other risks of harm to yourself

• Homicidal thoughts, intent, plan, and/or other risks of harm to others.

• A traumatic event occurred recently (e.g., a crime, natural disaster, sexual or physical assault).

• Someone close to you has recently died.

• Perceptual disturbances such as hearing things or seeing things that others do not hear or see.

• Feeling persistently unsafe, a sense of impending doom or danger, or that something or someone wants to hurt you or is out to get you.

• Currently living without food, clothing, and/or shelter.

• Unable to care for yourself, such as not eating or sleeping for several days. 

• Having withdrawal symptoms from drugs or alcohol (call 911 for medical assistance). 

• Experiencing uncontrollable panic and unable to calm down.  

24/7 virtual crisis counseling is available. Students can call CAPS at 517-355-8270 and press “1” at the prompt to speak with a crisis counselor anytime. 

If you believe your life is in imminent danger and you cannot keep yourself safe, or you or someone else has decided to seriously harm or kill yourself/themselves or someone else, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room, if it is safe to do so. The nearest emergency room to MSU East Lansing campus is McLaren Greater Lansing: 2900 Collins Rd, Lansing, MI (3.1 miles from Olin Health Center). Phone: 517-975-6000. 

Step 1: Warning Signs - Be aware of thoughts, images, mood, situation, behavior that indicate a crisis may be developing

Step 2: Internal Coping Strategies - Things you can do to take your attention and mind off your crisis without contacting another person. Examples include relaxation techniques, physical activity, listening to music and mindful techniques (free guided meditation is available at marc.ucla.edu/mindful-meditations.

Step 3: People and Social Settings that Provide Distraction - Seek them out if you cannot manage your stress while alone.

Step 4: People Whom You Can Ask for Help - Seek them out if you need help managing the crisis, or assistance in putting your plan into action.

Step 5: Ways to Make Your Environment Safe - Examples include preventing access to firearms and weapons, throwing sharp objects away, pouring out/throwing away substances, asking a friend to keep dangerous items in a difficult-to-access location.

Step 6: Professionals and Agencies - List who you can contact before/during a crisis.

Step 7: List the things most important to you that are worth living for in your life. 
 

Reaching out when you need help is a big step toward feeling better. When you meet with a crisis provider, they will:

• Ask questions to understand your situation, and to access your safety and ability to cope

• Help you regulate your emotions and calm yourself

• Explain confidentiality as it relates to the crisis

• Help you make a plan to address your concerns

A provider may also:

• Offer additional service options such as resources within CAPS, referrals elsewhere on campus or to an agency off-campus depending on your needs and availability of services

Contact police or medical professionals to assist you or others. While CAPS staff, in our cultural sensitivity and awareness, realize that some may be adverse towards law enforcement, we work to identify the best options for health and safety. If the crisis provider has concerns about imminent risk to you or someone else, they may need to contact the local police department to assist with health and safety efforts (e.g. transportation to the hospital, wellness check). Although the crisis clinician will make every effort to engage you in the process, it's important to be aware that some crisis situations may fall under the limits of confidentiality and potentially take place without your consent as mandated by the State of Michigan and our legal and ethical considerations. 

Voluntary Admission (Mental Health Code Sections 410–420)

If you are admitted to a psychiatric hospital or unit on VOLUNTARY BASIS (you admit yourself), or you are admitted by application of your guardian (with your agreement) you have the right:

• To give written notice of your intent to leave the hospital.

• After you put your request in writing, you must be discharged within three (3) days (excluding Sunday and holidays). However, if the hospital director determines you require treatment and petitions the court for your involuntary admission you must remain in the hospital until a determination is made about your treatment by the court. 

• To be discharged when treatment is complete or when you no longer need the services.

• To request a second opinion if the community mental health services program pre-admission screening unit does not think you need to go into the hospital. 

Involuntary Admission (Mental Health Code Sections 423–450; 498)

If you are INVOLUNTARILY ADMITTED (COURT ORDERED) to a psychiatric hospital or unit, you have the following rights:

• To make at least two phone calls

• To receive a copy of the application or petition saying you require treatment and to receive copies of reports by the doctors who examine you. To have a physical and mental examination within 24 hours after you are admitted, and again at least once a year. 

• To a written statement explaining that you will be examined by a psychiatrist within 24 hours after you are admitted. 

• To a written statement explaining your rights.

• To a full court hearing.

• To be represented by an attorney.

• To be present at the hearing.

• To a jury trial.

• To independent clinical examination.

• To have staff, if you wish, notify your family of your admission to the hospital. If the police take you into protective custody and bring you to a preadmission screening unit, to have staff of that unit complete their examination of you within two (2) hours unless there is a documented medical reason for the delay.

• To be examined by two doctors or by a psychologist and a psychiatrist to determine whether you need to be admitted. One of the examinations must be a psychiatrist and the first examination may be done before you are brought to the hospital.

• To refuse medication before your court hearing unless a physician decides you need it to prevent you from physically hurting yourself or others or if your life is in danger. If you agree to medication or treatment before the court hearing, it does not mean that you are agreeing to the hospitalization. 

• To have an independent medical examination before your full court hearing. 

Within 72 hours (this does not include Sundays and holidays) after a petition and clinical certification have been filed with the court, you have:

• The right to meet with legal counsel,

• The right to meet with a treatment team member assigned by the hospital director,

• The right to meet with a designated community mental health worker,

• The right to designate an individual of your choice to meet with you and the people indicated above for the purpose of informing you of:

• The proposed plan of service in the hospital.

• The proposed plan of service in the community.

• The nature and possible consequences of the involuntary hospitalization process.

• The right to request that your court hearing be "deferred" (delayed) temporarily (60 or 90 days).

• You will be treated as a voluntary patient during this time; however, you have the right to demand a hearing at any time during the "deferral" period. 

As an involuntary (court-ordered) recipient, YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TREATMENT. However, you do have the right to ask questions about your treatment, participate in the development of your plan of service, and discuss it with your doctor or other mental health professionals. If you think our treatment is not helping, you may ask for a review of your treatment plan.

If you are given medication by your doctor you will need to take it according to his/her instructions. Listed below are some questions you may want to ask of the doctor or nurse so that you can have the information you need to make it as effective as possible.

• Why do I have to take this medicine?

• What will happen if I do not take it?

• Can I be treated without medication?

• Before I begin taking any medicine or even if I am not taking medicine, can I have a second opinion?

• What is the name of the medicine prescribed for me?

• How is it supposed to make me feel? What are the side effects of the medicine? Will it affect any other medical or physical problems I have?

• Are there side effects I should report immediately?

• Is it similar to or different from the medicine I was taking before this?

• How much should I take? How many times a day? What time of day? Before or after meals?

• What would happen if I took too much?

• Is it all right if I drink alcohol or beer when taking this medicine? Is there any food or other drink I should avoid?

• Are there other medicines I should avoid when taking this medicine?

• Will this medicine affect my interest and/or my ability to participate in sex?

• How long will I need to take this medicine?

• If I take this medicine for a long time, what can it do to me?

• What is tardive dyskinesia (TD)? Can i get TD from taking this medicine? Can something be done to avoid this?

For women in child bearing years:

• Will this affect my menstrual periods?

• Should I take birth control pills while taking this medicine?

• If I get pregnant while taking this medicine, could it have any effect on my baby?

• Should I take it while nursing?

• Should I drive or operate machinery while taking this medicine?

• Is there anything else I should know about this medicine?

• How often will you review with me what the medicine is doing?

• How soon will I need to take this medicine?

If you are admitted to the hospital involuntarily, you have the following rights regarding court hearings:

• To have your court hearing promptly, but not more than seven days (this does not include Sundays or holidays) after the court receives the application (petition).

• To be present at all court hearings. During this hearing, you have the right to be represented by an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, the court will appoint one of you. Your attorney must consult with you, in person, at least 24 hours before the time set for your court hearing. (You may choose to waive the right to attend your hearing by signing a waiver witnessed by your legal counsel and filed with the court.)

• To demand a jury trial.

• To present documents and witnesses and to cross examine witnesses.

• To obtain, at public expense if necessary, an independent clinical evaluation by a physician, psychiatrist, or licensed psychologist of your choice. (You must request this before the first scheduled hearing or at the first scheduled hearing before the first witness has been sworn.)

• To a copy of the court order.

If you have a court order for continuing involuntary treatment, you have the right to regular, adequate, and prompt reviews of your status. These reviews must be done six (6) months from the date of the court order and every six (6) months from there on.

Results of these reviews must be provided to you within five days from the time they are made part of your record and you must be informed of your right to petition for discharge.

If you do petition for discharge following the periodic review, you have the right to a hearing. In addition to that hearing, you may petition the court for a discharge hearing once within each 12-month period from the date of the original order. If, after any of these hearings, the court determines that you no longer require treatment, you will be discharged. 

After a tragic event, it is typical for people to experience a variety of emotions following such a traumatic event.

You can strengthen your resilience - the ability to adapt well in the face of adversity - in the days and weeks ahead. 

Talk about it.
Ask for support from people who care about you and who will listen to your concerns. Free counseling services are available at MSU through Counseling & Psychiatric Services.

Strive for balance.
When tragedy occurs, it's easy to become overwhelmed and have a negative or pessimistic outlook. Balance that viewpoint by reminding yourself of people and events that are meaningful and comforting, even encouraging. 

Turn it off and take a break.
You may want to keep informed, but try to limit the amount of news you take in. While getting the news informs you, being overexposed to it can increase your stress. The images can be very powerful in reawakening your feeling of distress. 

Honor your feelings.
Remember that grief is a long process. You may experience intense stress similar to the effects of a physical injury. 

Take care of yourself.
Fuel your body with food, gent plenty of rest and build physical activity into your day. Avoid alcohol and drugs because they can suppress your feelings rather than help you to manage and lessen your distress.

Give yourself time to experience your feelings and to recover. It is typical to expect many ups and downs, including "survivor's guilt" - feeling bad that you escaped the tragedy while others did not. It is important to get professional help if you feel you are unable to function or perform basic activities of daily living. MSU Counseling & Psychiatric Services (CAPS) provides free, remote crisis services 24/7/365.

CAPS Crisis Line:
Call 517-355-8270 and press “1” when prompted to speak to a crisis counselor.

It is typical for people to experience a variety of emotions following such a traumatic event.

Managing Your Distress After a Tragic Event:

You can strengthen your resilience — the ability to adapt well in the face of adversity — in the days and weeks ahead.

1. Talk about it: Ask for support from people who care about you and professionals who will listen to your concerns. Refer to the frequently updated crisis support page set up in response to the events of Feb. 13 for the latest updates on what is available: · 

• MSU faculty and staff who are interested in personal counseling services are encouraged to utilize the MSU Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which offers free, confidential short-term counseling and referral services for MSU employees and members of their immediate family. To learn more about the team, visit the MSU Employee Assistance Program (EAP) website.

• MSU faculty, staff and their dependents currently enrolled in an MSU health plan have access to Teladoc—an online medical care service that gives you 24/7 access to a healthcare professional via web/phone, or mobile app in minutes.

• MSU faculty, staff and their dependents currently enrolled in Blue Care Network can contact Behavioral Health at 1-800-482-5982.

• MSU faculty, staff and their dependents currently enrolled in Community Blue or CDHP can speak to a behavioral health clinician by calling New Directions at 1-800-762-2382.
   

2. Strive for balance. 

• When tragedy occurs, it's easy to become overwhelmed and have a negative or pessimistic outlook. Balance that viewpoint by reminding yourself of people and events that are meaningful and comforting, even encouraging. Know that any contributions of your time and resources is deeply appreciated by all Spartans.

3. Honor your feelings. 

• Remember that grief is a long process. You may experience intense stress similar to the effects of a physical injury.

4. Turn it off and take a break. 

• You may want to keep informed, but try to limit the amount of news you take in. While getting the news informs you, being overexposed to it can increase your stress. The images can be very powerful in reawakening your feeling of distress.

5. Take care of yourself. 

• Fuel your body with food, get plenty of rest and build physical activity into your day. Avoid alcohol and drugs because they can suppress your feelings rather than help you to manage and lessen your distress.

• Give yourself time to experience your feelings and to recover. It is typical to expect many ups and downs, including "survivor's guilt" - feeling bad that you escaped the tragedy while others did not. It is important to get professional help if you feel you are unable to function or perform basic activities of daily living.

University Resources:

• Where to turn if you have a student in distress 

• Outreach services 

• Care and Intervention Team (CAIT)

Staff and Faculty Resources: 

•  FAQ Page (Information compiled by the College of Education- Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education) 

• Counseling Services for Faculty and Staff through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 

• Information for RAs and Residence Hall staff 

• Syllabus Language 

• Addressing Student Mental Health Concerns in Online Courses (See additional remote access resources)