First aid in a moment of crisis

Mental emergency / Severe mental crisis

Mental crises can affect anyone. They can be the result of an unexpected overstraining situation or prolonged, cumulative stress.
Experiencing a crisis involves the loss of one' s inner equilibrium when people face life circumstances they cannot cope with temporarily because the usual strategies for action or coping do not work, break down or are no longer available. In most cases, this is accompanied by a feeling of loss of control and is often described as a painful mental state. 
Various symptoms each with varying degrees of intensity may occur. Insensitivity is just as possible as severe stress, anxiety, aggressiveness, despair, or confusion. Perception may be altered or narrowed and may, for example, intensify catastrophic fantasies or suicidal thoughts, and even delusions or hallucinations. 
When a mental health emergency occurs, people sometimes need immediate professional help providing rapid relief and clarification.
COUNSELING CENTERS WHERE YOU FIRST HAVE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT ARE ONLY HELPFUL TO A LIMITED EXTENT. THIS ALSO APPLIES TO THE PSYCHOSOCIAL COUNSELING CENTER OF THE STUDIERENDENWERK THÜRINGEN.

Should you or someone close to you currently experience an acute mental health crisis, you can ask for help:

• Telephone counselling service: anonymous, free counselling around the clock; phone: 0800-1110111 or 0800-1110222, e-mail and online counselling, www.telefonseelsorge.de
• Seelefon: self-help counselling on mental illness; phone: 0228-71002424 or 01805-950951, e-mail: seelefon@psychiatrie.de, www.bapk.de
• Number against sorrow: anonymous and free - for all questions, worries and problems; phone for children and adolescents: 116111, phone for parents: 0800-1110550, e-mail and online counselling for children and adolescents, www.nummergegenkummer.de
• NeST - Suicide Prevention Network: Counselling about suicide; phone: 03641-9390465, e-mail: info@nest-thueringen.de, www.nest-thueringen.de
• MuTeS - Muslim worry line: anonymous, confidential, understanding and competent; phone: 030-443 509 821, www.mutes.de

You can contact in case of any more serious crises:

• the emergency ward of the hospital for psychiatry and psychotherapy or a hospital with a psychiatric ward in your town,
• the social-psychiatric service in your town,
• the emergency medical service (116 117).

IN CASE OF IMMEDIATE DANGER TO YOURSELF OR OTHERS (ESPECIALLY SUICIDE), YOU SHOULD NOT HESITATE TO CALL THE EMERGENCY SERVICES (112) OR THE POLICE (110).