Dealing With a Crisis (age 18 and above)

Dial 911

IF IT IS AN EMERGENCY.

 

If it is an emergency and the police are called:

If you can, meet the police officers outside before they interact with your loved one. Brief them on what has been going on and the emotional state of your loved one. If you have helpful suggestions based on past experiences, tell them „what may work best‟ in dealing with your loved one.

Prepare your home before their arrival. Remove any items that could be used or perceived as a weapon. Be direct and open. Do not exaggerate the situation or leave out relevant information.

Be prepared to give a brief history of what the behavior of your loved one has been like. Include information about prior 5150s. This is often best given to the police in a brief written form (see „Keep a Record‟ on page 6 and „AB 1424 Information‟ on page 13 of the Quick Guide for details about this record).

If the police believe that the person meets one or more of the three criteria:

• A danger to other people,

• A danger to him or herself (suicidal), or

• Gravely disabled, as demonstrated by being unable to provide for clothing, food or shelter.

they will place him/her on a 5150 and arrange for the person to be transported (typically by ambulance) to a designated facility for psychiatric evaluation and treatment. The individual can be held at a designated facility for up to 72 hours. Be sure to ask the ambulance driver or the police where your friend or relative is being taken.

If the person is in crisis, but the situation does not appear to be an emergency here are some resources to try:

Sausal Creek Outpatient Stabilization Clinic

Offers crisis intervention, telephone and walk-in services for adults who are having difficulties and need help immediately. Services include assessments, medication management, counseling, help with obtaining other services and general support.  Services are provided on a voluntary basis.

Hours: Mon - Fri 8 AM to 8 PM; Sat 8AM to 4:30 PM; Closed Sun (New Hours Starting June 28, 2010)

http://www.telecarecorp.com/programs/display.sd?iid=38

2620 26th Avenue (cross street is 27th Street) in Oakland

510-437-2363

 

Crisis Support Services/Suicide Prevention is a 24-hour hotline

http://www.crisissupport.org/home

• 1-800-309-2131 Alameda County
• 1-800-SUICIDE  National Hotline

 

National Suicide Prevention, 24-hour hotline (all ages)

800-SUICIDE (800-784-2433)

 

John George Psychiatric Pavilion

Alameda County's psychiatric inpatient hospital offers psychiatric emergency services and acute inpatient services for adult mental health clients. Operates 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week. Services are provided on a voluntary and involuntary basis. This is where most people placed on a 5150 are taken for evaluation and treatment.

http://www.acmedctr.org/johngeorge.cfm

2060 Fairmont Drive in San Leandro

510-346-7500

 

Berkeley Mobile Crisis Team

Provides mobile crisis response for Berkeley and Albany residents and intervention services in Berkeley and Albany for issues such as suicide, homicide, threats, drug abuse, and evaluation for psychiatric hospitalization. Operates seven days per week from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., except on Tuesdays, the hours are 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.

http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ContentDisplay.aspx?id=15662

510-981-5254

 

ACCESS Program (Acute Crisis Care and Evaluation for System-wide Services)

Alameda County Residents (all ages) may also call this number to be referred to all County mental health and substance abuse services.  They offer services in Spanish and in 8 Asian languages.

• 1-800-491-9099

 

Crisis Response Program

Serves Alameda County residents who do not reside in Berkeley or Albany. Provides telephone and limited walk-in crisis intervention, psychiatric assessment and evaluation and temporary medication support. The Crisis Response Program has offices in Oakland, Fremont and San Leandro which are open Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The program also has offices in downtown Livermore and Pleasanton; these are open three days per week. The Downtown Oakland Mobile Crisis Team responds to requests from the Oakland Police Dept., other agencies and individuals for assistance with mental health evaluations of adults in the community (staff permitting). Operates from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

1-800-491-9099 (The Crisis Response Program is reached through ACCESS)

 

If the person is NOT in crisis and wants help

• if he or she has private medical insurance, call the insurance company and ask for a referral to a psychiatrist or a therapist
• If he or she has Medi-Cal, Medi-Care or does not have any insurance, Alameda County Residents may call the ACCESS Program (Acute Crisis Care and Evaluation for System-wide Services) for referrals to a therapist, psychiatrist or other mental health resources
• 1-800-491-9099

 

 

ARRESTED!

Click on this link if your loved one has just been arrested and placed in the Santa Rita Jail of Alameda County. In the Santa Rita Jail, persons with mental illness can be separated from the general prison population and receive services if the Criminal Justice Mental Health section is aware that they are in the jail.  The instructions will help you go to the right place with the right information in the right way for your loved one's best chance in a bad situation.

 

Psychiatric Facilities in Alameda County

Acute Inpatient Services: 2 to 30 day stays (on average)

Herrick Hospital--Alta Bates Medical Center (Berkeley)

Inpatient services for adolescents 12-18 (mental health, dual diagnosis, eating disorders) and adults (dual diagnosis, intensive inpatient) Accepts Medi-Cal.  Voluntary or involuntary. Call for admission information.

• 510-204-4405

 

Fremont Hospital (Fremont)

Inpatient services for Adolescents and Adults.  Private Hospital.  No Emergency Room.  Voluntary only. Call for appointment or crisis intervention

• 510-796-1100

 

Eden Hospital Medical Center (Castro Valley)

Serves adult psychiatric patients.  Inpatient, partial hospitalization and outpatient services.  Accepts Medi-Cal and private insurance.  Voluntary only. Call for intake assessment.

• 510-889-5016

 

John George Psychiatric Pavilion (County hospital, San Leandro)

Alameda County’s psychiatric inpatient hospital offers psychiatric emergency services and acute inpatient services for adult mental health clients.  24-hours a day.   Voluntary and Involuntary. Accepts Medi-Cal

• 510-346-7500

Heritage Hospital (Oakland)

Acute inpatient treatment for adults. Accepts Medi-Cal, private insurance.  Voluntary and involuntary.

• 510-535-5115

 

Sub-acute or longer-term Inpatient Facilities:

Villa Fairmont (San Leandro)

Alameda County’s primary psychiatric sub-acute facility offering both short-stay and longer sub-acute inpatient services for adults. Voluntary for some patients, many are placed on conservatorship.

• 510-352-9690

 

Morton Bakar Center (Hayward)

A long term skilled nursing facility dedicated to providing optimum care for older adults with a primary major mental illness.

• 510-582-7676

 

Gladman Rehabilitation (Oakland)

Provides services for adults whose psychiatric disabilities require extensive rehabilitation services beyond those provided in sub-acute settings.

• 510-536-8111