Mental Health Emergencies and the ER

A mental health emergency may involve an immediate concern about someone’s safety, severe psychiatric symptoms, an acute emotional crisis, or a situation requiring urgent clinical assessment. If someone may harm themselves or another person, has a serious medical concern, or cannot remain safe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Crisis support can help determine appropriate next steps when safety is uncertain.

The ER may be appropriate when there is an immediate safety concern, serious injury, medical complication, possible overdose, or a need for urgent medical evaluation. Emergency departments can address immediate medical needs and help determine whether psychiatric care is required. For behavioral health concerns that do not require emergency medical treatment, a crisis stabilization program or qualified behavioral health provider may offer more specialized support.

Crisis Stabilization & Intervention is an acute care program designed to support people experiencing mental health crises. At Alter Behavioral Health, the service includes immediate intervention, clinical assessment, psychiatric stabilization, risk assessment, safety planning, and family sessions. It is intended for adults with mental health, trauma, or substance use concerns and forms part of Alter’s broader continuum of behavioral health care.

After immediate medical needs are addressed, the next step may involve psychiatric assessment, safety planning, referral, or admission to an appropriate behavioral health level of care. The right setting depends on clinical needs, safety considerations, and available support. Alter Behavioral Health offers crisis stabilization, residential treatment, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient care through consultation and admissions support.

Depending on a person’s clinical needs, continuing care may include residential treatment, partial hospitalization, or intensive outpatient treatment. Residential care provides structured support, while PHP and IOP offer progressively less intensive settings with ongoing therapy and clinical guidance. Alter’s programs address mental health, trauma, addiction, and co-occurring conditions using individualized treatment planning.

Yes. Alter Behavioral Health provides dual-diagnosis treatment for people whose substance use occurs alongside mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, trauma, or PTSD. Treatment may be delivered through crisis stabilization, residential, partial hospitalization, or intensive outpatient programs. Care can include CBT, DBT, EMDR, mindfulness-based approaches, family participation, and other individualized supports.

Treatment approaches may include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, EMDR, family therapy, mindfulness-based approaches, trauma-focused modalities, risk assessment, and safety planning. The specific combination is tailored to the individual’s needs and level of care. Alter Behavioral Health also incorporates holistic supports and technology such as the Care Predictor Index within its broader treatment model.

Families, hospitals, emergency departments, and community providers can contact Alter Behavioral Health for consultation and enrollment information. Admissions and crisis support are available around the clock, and the team can discuss clinical needs, available programs, insurance verification, and potential next steps. If there is an immediate danger or medical emergency, call 911 or visit the nearest ER first.