Every day, teenagers in communities across America experience some mental health crisis. During such a crisis, your child may hurt themselves or other people. They can also otherwise lose much of their ability to function. One common recommendation for people of any age who experience this situation is a crisis intervention program. Participation in crisis intervention can help your teenager in more ways than one. Sometimes, it may be essential in protecting their health and welfare. Contact Imagine Fort Collins today at 888.291.2309 to learn more about the benefits of crisis interventions for teens in Colorado.
The Basics of a Mental Health Crisis
Mental health issues are pretty common in American teenagers. There’s a roughly 50/50 chance that your child will experience one at some point. Some teens have ongoing issues that first appeared before they reached adolescence. Others face new problems after reaching adolescence.
What is a mental health crisis? This term can apply to any situation in which your teenager either:
- Tries to harm themselves seriously
- Makes the same kind of attempt toward others
- Experiences extreme, uncontrolled behaviors and emotions
You may also see this same kind of situation referred to as a mental health emergency.
Some teens in crisis are in immediate danger of harming themselves or someone else. Others need help but don’t face such immediate risks. The benefits of crisis interventions for teens may apply to either set of circumstances.
How a Crisis Intervention Program Works
Crisis intervention is an organized way to support people in crisis. In emergencies, it’s often supplied by specially trained personnel you reach by calling 911. These personnel can help stop a suicidal or homicidal act from occurring.
However, a different approach is used in non-emergency situations. These less extreme situations may involve non-suicidal self-harm or a preoccupation with dying. They may also include intense sadness or diagnosable symptoms of depression or another illness. In addition, your child may suddenly start drinking heavily or using drugs.
In such circumstances, your teen may benefit from a crisis intervention program. This kind of program seeks to address the specific issues affecting your child. It typically starts with a conversation between you, your teenager, and the intervention team. The goals of this conversation include roughly assessing your child’s condition. They also include helping you choose the suitable treatment options to address that condition.
What Are the Benefits of Crisis Interventions for Teens
What are some common crisis intervention benefits for teens? Specific advantages available to your child may include:
- Working through a crisis while avoiding the need for hospitalization
- Getting a clearer idea of the possible causes of their crisis
- Connecting with treatment providers who can address these underlying causes
- Avoiding a further decline in their mental well-being
- Finding a quicker path back to health and wellness
However, there are also some limits to the benefits of crisis interventions. Most importantly, an intervention is no substitute for outpatient or inpatient mental health treatment. Such treatment may prove essential to your child’s attempts to get better.
Access the Benefits of Crisis Interventions Today at Imagine Fort Collins
Professional resources can be vital to your child’s well-being in moments of crisis. Crisis intervention benefits for teens aren’t the same in all cases. However, generally speaking, they make it easier to avoid dire outcomes. They also make it easier to restore healthy function.
At Imagine Fort Collins, we understand the many benefits of crisis interventions. That’s why we feature an intervention program designed specifically for teenagers. We also feature a diverse slate of follow-up teen mental health treatments. For more information on how we can help you and your child, call us today at 888.291.2309. You can also reach us online.