Some people can have a mental health concern that is temporary and resolves on its own or with brief treatment. But some people have mental health issues that are more chronic or persistent. Like any chronic condition, making plans for your care in conjunction with a provider can really help when there is a flare-up.
Mental health conditions that are chronic can sometimes require you to actively manage your symptoms. Like any condition, there are good days and more difficult days and over time you can learn what your specific triggers are for flare-ups. Flare-ups can’t be entirely avoided however, and when they occur, it can be helpful to have a plan outlining what has worked for you to get back on track.
Consider creating a safety plan
One document to consider, particularly if you are prone to suicidal thoughts or feeling overwhelmed, is a safety plan. Suicidal thoughts and overwhelm usually occur after a triggering event, and over time you will likely become aware of the thoughts, feelings and behaviors that indicate you are heading towards a crisis state. If you haven’t yet identified your triggers and your early warning signs, it can be helpful to sit down when the crisis has passed and write out what was going on and what your thoughts and feelings were before you started feeling less in control of your response. It could be that you start having trouble sleeping, your heart starts racing at odd times, you start having feelings of wanting to cut yourself or you withdraw from friends or whatever symptoms seem most prominent for you.
So, when you have a sense of when you are heading down the path of a crisis, how will a safety plan help? A safety plan is a way to remind yourself (and your trusted friends and family, if available) what your best coping strategies have been. One of the most common safety plan templates is the Stanley Brown Patient Safety Plan. You can find apps that follow a similar format, such as the Suicide Safety Plan app. Having your safety plan on an app is a way can have it with you all the time. If you have someone in your life with whom you are close, sharing your safety plan with them can help them know what to do if they see you heading down the path of a crisis before you do.
Mental health advance directives
Another document to consider if you are hospitalized periodically for mental health care is a mental health advance directive. This document can be very helpful for your treatment team if you are in a state where you can no longer think clearly and/or you can’t communicate clearly. It gives your emergency care providers a sense of what medications have worked/not worked when you have been hospitalized before, what treatments have been effective/not effective and note who can visit you in the hospital.
A mental health advance directive is a legal document, and when you complete one, you should provide a copy to your care providers and to the local hospital so they have it on file. Hospitalization for mental health issues is sometimes a necessary, but unwelcome event. A mental health advance directive can help you get what you need more quickly.
Need help creating a safety plan or a mental health advance directive?
- Students on the Seattle campus can contact the UW Counseling Center for an appointment, 206-543-1240
- Staff or faculty should reach out to their primary care healthcare provider or mental health provider for assistance