New tool could save a person in a mental health crisis

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — If you see someone suffering from a mental health crisis, your first instinct might be to call 911. But mental health experts say it would be better to call the person’s doctor or emergency contact, so they want people to carry a crisis card.

“We’ve all seen on the news situations where people call 911 when no one is breaking the law. 911 ultimately is a law enforcement number, and when you’re having a mental health crisis, you’re not breaking the law,” said Eric Litwiller, Mental Health America of South Central Kansas.

He is spreading the word about the crisis card, a tool that can help someone get the correct help more quickly.

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“Anyone who lives with a mental health crisis or a mental health issue that might manifest as a crisis at some point, we’d encourage you to take one of these cards, fill it out, keep it on your person at all times,” Litwiller said.

The card has local health information on one side. On the other, it says, “If I have given you this card, I need your help.”

“It has a blank for your name. It has a blank for your mental health issue. It has contact information for your primary health provider, and it has contact information for a spouse or friend that you might want to have called if you find yourself in the midst of a mental health crisis,” Litwiller said.

Mental Health America is working to make the cards available across the area, at libraries, car dealerships, coffee shops, and any other place that will carry them.

Litwiller wants everyone to know about the cards and to feel free to take one and fill it out.

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“Someday, someone, some random person on the street, is going to walk up to you and hand their card to you, and I need for everybody in Wichita to know what to do in that eventuality,” he said. “You should be able to flip this card over and say, ‘Oh, this is Bob. Bob is having a panic attack. Here’s how I get ahold of his doctor, and here’s how I get ahold of his wife.’”

Litwiller said this is a much more sustainable method of handling a mental health crisis.

If you want one of the mental health crisis cards for yourself or someone in your life, call Mental Health America of South Central Kansas at 316-651-1241.

“If they let me know of a business that they visit regularly, I’m happy to call that business to see if they would display the cards so that they are available to others as well,” Litwiller said. “I currently take a supply with me to all of my speaking engagements at churches, corporate lunch-and-learn events, etc. and leave them there.”

If you or someone you know needs immediate help, call 988. Litwiller said 988 is known for being the suicide hotline, but he said it is for any mental health crisis.

Whether it’s for a family member, friend, coworker, or for yourself, there is help out there for anyone looking for mental health care. Click here to find a list.

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