CCS Emergency Procedures

Mental Health Emergency Definition:
A mental health emergency is a life-threatening situation in which an individual is imminently threatening harm to self or others, severely disoriented or out of touch with reality, has a severe inability to function, or is otherwise distraught and out of control.
 
Examples of Mental Health Emergencies: 
  • Acting on a suicide threat
  • Homicidal or threatening behavior towards other
  • Being in possession of weapons
  • Gesturing/posturing to hurt another person
  • Gesturing/posturing to damage property in one’s home
  • Self-injury needing immediate medical attention
  • Being severely impaired by drugs or alcohol
  • Acting in a highly erratic or unusual behavior that indicates very unpredictable behavior and/or an inability for an individual to care for themselves.​
How to Respond to a Mental Health Emergency

1. Call 911: If you believe that you or someone close to you (child/co-parent/minor-aged patient) is likely to immanently hurt themselves or someone else, then you should immediately dial 911, and attempt to have emergency police/fire personnel intervene to support you/your family members on site. You can contact our emergency paging service staff once police/fire personnel are on their way to your location.

​2. Emergency Room Visit: You may also go directly to an emergency room to receive support services/counseling/advice for any emergency medical and/or mental health situation. If you do not feel safe to transport yourself or your family to the emergency room, then please call 911 and ask emergency fire/police staff to help facilitate your transition to the emergency room. ​​
Mental Health Crisis Definition: 
​A mental health crisis is a non-life threatening situation in which an individual is exhibiting extreme emotional disturbance or behavioral distress, considering harm to self or others, disoriented or out of touch with reality, may appear to be slightly intoxicated, has a compromised ability to function, or is otherwise agitated and unable to be calmed.
​

Examples of a Mental Health Crisis include:
  • Erratic, unusual, uncharacteristic behavior that is concerning
  • Talking about suicide threats
  • Talking about threatening behavior
  • Not following a substance abuse agreement/plan
  • Not following a safety plan regarding superficial self-injury, such as non-suicidal self-injury, sometimes referred to as “delicate cutting,” that does not require immediate medical attention
  • Eating disorders that have become increasingly concerning
  • Lack of compliance with taking prescribed psychiatric medications resulting in a change in functioning (Excessive sleep)
  • Not following through with basic daily expectations (A minor not attending school or adult not going to work for more than one day)
  • Mood fluctuations, such as being very depressed, angry or excessively anxious​
​How to Respond to a Mental Health Crisis

1.  Contact Our Emergency Paging Service: If your clinical concerns are not immanent then you may call our emergency paging service (617-244-2447), which is listed as DaVinci Behavioral Health, Inc. and share the following information:
  • ​Your name/name of the patient
  • Your phone number
  • Your location
  • Your clinician’s name
  • The nature of the Emergency, including whether anyone is at risk to hurt themselves or someone else.
  • Whether or not you have already tried to contact the police
  • The location of your hospital/emergency room if you are already there. 
2. Talk to Our Staff: Once you reach our Emergency Contact Staff Member, they will try to provide clinical feedback to you in the moment, try to contact your clinician on your behalf, or direct you to call 911 or to proceed to your nearest emergency room. 

3. Seek Additional Support: If you do not receive a response to your call in a timely manner, then please call 911 or go to your local emergency room for emergency medical support. ​