A mental health crisis is a situation in which a person’s behavior puts them at risk of hurting themselves or others and/or prevents them from being able to care for themselves or function effectively in the community. This period of crisis can be stressful for the individual and their family members and/or caregivers but preparing for the possibility of a mental health crisis can help alleviate some of the uncertainty.

NAMI’s “Navigating a Mental Health Crisis” provides information and resources that help families and individuals living with mental illness, prepare for the possibility of a crisis. During this webinar, the presenters will discuss this crisis guide and how to prepare for a crisis. It will include information about what can contribute to a crisis, warning signs, strategies that can help de-escalate the situation, and how to engage with systems such as law enforcement and emergency healthcare services. The webinar will also discuss how to prepare for a crisis, including creating a portable treatment record or advanced medical directives, and how to use these tools during a crisis.

Topics and themes:
• Mental health crisis
• Signs and symptoms of crisis
• Portable treatment records and advance directives
• Support resources

Presenters:
Teri Brister, Ph.D., serves as the Director of Information & Support at NAMI. Dr. Brister is responsible for ensuring that all content created and disseminated by NAMI attains the highest possible standards of accuracy, relevance, value and academic rigor. She is the author of NAMI Basics and co-author of the NAMI Homefront program. Prior to joining NAMI in 2005, Dr. Brister worked for twenty years in the community mental health system in Mississippi, working in both clinical and administrative roles, including Assistant Executive Director in two different centers. Dr. Brister received her Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration from Jackson State University, and her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Counseling Psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Mississippi.

Sue Abderholden has devoted her career to changing laws and attitudes that affect people with disabilities and their families. Since the fall of 2001, she has served as the executive director for NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness) where she has grown the organization to be the largest provider of family and public education and support in the state and the state’s strongest advocacy organization. She has held leadership positions with Arc of Minnesota, U.S. Senator Paul D. Wellstone and PACER Center. Sue has a B.A. in political science from Macalester College and a master’s degree in public health administration from the University of Minnesota. Ms. Abderholden has received over 25 awards for her advocacy work including the 2018 Rona and Ken Purdy Award to End Discrimination from National NAMI, Excellence in Mental Health Advocacy and Policy Award from the International African Mental Health Providers, 2013 Gaylord Anderson Leadership Award from the U of M School of Public Health and the National Council for Behavioral Health 2013 Advocacy Leadership Award.