Summary
"The guidelines presented here define appropriate responses to mental health crises across these variables. They were developed by a diverse expert panel that includes individuals with and without serious mental illnesses who are leaders within mental health professions and mental health advocacy. This report of the panel’s findings is not intended to be an exhaustive resource on crisis services and best practices, but rather an explanation of factors essential to any response to mental health emergencies. In organizations that may already have protocols for responding to individuals in mental health crises (for instance, police departments, hospitals and mental health clinics), these guidelines offer an opportunity to assess the adequacy of current practices based on a set of underlying values and principles. In foster care, schools or other settings where protocols may not currently exist, the guidelines can serve as a framework for examining current activities and the need for more explicit standards"--Page 4.