Crisis in Schizophrenia: What to Do First

The intersection of schizophrenia and an acute mental health crisis typically involves a profound, overwhelming disruption of cognitive processing, emotional stability, and grasp on reality. During these periods, symptoms of the disorder such as hallucinations or delusions frequently intensify, leaving someone unable to distinguish internal psychiatric distress from the external reality. This internal chaos is often compounded by severe agitation, a sudden withdrawal from social support systems, or a complete breakdown in the ability to communicate, which can rapidly escalate into a dangerous medical and social emergency. Helping a family member experiencing a mental health crisis is an incredibly stressful and frightening situation. Safety, both yours and theirs, is the immediate priority. In this episode, host Rachel Star Withers, a diagnosed schizophrenic, and co-host Gabe Howard discuss how to navigate an active schizophrenia mental health crisis while prioritizing safety for everyone involved. Guest Touray Beaton, Jr., director of emergency and community based services with the South Carolina Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, joins. He breaks down how the South Carolina Mental Health Mobile Crisis responds so you can know what to expect. Touray Beaton, Jr. is the Director of Emergency and Community Based Services for the Coastal Empire Community Mental Health Center South Carolina Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (Website: https://bhdd.sc.gov/office-mental-health/services/mobile-services/mobile-crisis) BHDD Office of Mental Health Mobile Crisis clinicians provide 24/7/365 day community-based crisis response anywhere in South Carolina. Our goal is to provide patients throughout the state with immediate access to crisis services and the most appropriate level of care. Our experienced and highly trained master's level clinicians work directly with local mental health centers, law enforcement, emergency service centers, and community providers to help address the crisis situation and to stabilize individuals who may be experiencing a mental health crisis. Our host, Rachel Star Withers, (Link: www.rachelstarlive.com) is an entertainer, international speaker, video producer, and schizophrenic. She has appeared on MTV’s Ridiculousness, TruTV, NBC’s America’s Got Talent, Marvel's Black Panther, TUBI’s #shockfight, Goliath: Playing with Reality, and is the host of the HealthLine podcast “Inside Schizophrenia”. She grew up seeing monsters, hearing people in the walls, and having intense urges to hurt herself. Rachel creates videos documenting her schizophrenia, ways to manage, and letting others like her know they are not alone and can still live an amazing life. She has created a kid’s mental health comic line, The Adventures of ____. (Learn more at this link: https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Fearless-Unstoppable-Light-Ambitious/dp/B0FHWK4ZHS ) Fun Fact: She has wrestled alligators. Our cohost, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author. He also hosts the twice Webby honored podcast, Inside Bipolar, with Dr. Nicole Washington. To learn more about Gabe, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices