Here 24/7 is the local crisis telephone hotline and mobile crisis service. If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis, we’re here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
What is an Addictions/Mental Health CRISIS
An addiction and/or mental health crisis often means that you no longer feel able to cope or be in control of your situation. You may feel overwhelming emotional distress or anxiety, cannot cope with day-to-day life or work, think about suicide or self-harm, increase your use of substances, feel like everyone is out to get you, or experience hallucinations and hearing voices. A crisis can be the result of an underlying addiction or mental health condition, a medical condition, an overdose, use of illicit drugs or intoxication with alcohol, or a stressful life circumstance/situation.
Examples of addiction and/or mental health crisis can include:
- Talking about suicide or not wanting to go on
- Talking about threatening behavior or wanting to hurt others
- Self- injury, but not needing immediate medical attention
- Increased or higher risk alcohol or substance abuse
- Highly erratic or unusual behavior
- Not eating or eating all the time, rapid weight loss or gain
- Not taking prescribed psychiatric medications
- Isolating from friends and family
- Emotionally distraught, very depressed, angry or anxious
If you or a loved one experiences these signs, see your doctor right way, or call Here 24/7. We can help you make a plan for what to do next.
What is an Addictions/Mental Health EMERGENCY
An addiction and/or mental health emergency is a life threatening situation where you are at risk of acting on suicidal thoughts, thoughts of harming others, are severely disorientated or out of touch with reality, are really struggling to take care of your own basic needs (e.g. bathing, eating, tending to your health). An emergency can be the result of an underlying addiction or mental health condition, a medical condition, an overdose, use of illicit drugs or intoxication with alcohol, or a stressful life circumstance/situation.
Examples of addiction and/or mental health emergency can include:
- Acting on suicidal thoughts or preparing to act on them
- Acting on a desire to hurt others or preparing to act on them
- Self- injury needing immediate medical attention
- Experiencing sensations that aren’t real and/or beliefs that can’t possibly be true
- Overdose on alcohol or substances (accidental or deliberate)
- Experiencing serious side effects from medications
- Highly erratic or unusual behavior that is putting you or others at risk
- A rapid change in your ability to take care of yourself (e.g. bathing, eating, tending to your health) that is putting you at risk of serious harm.
- Making choices that put you in serious danger
If you or a loved one experiences these signs, see your doctor right way, or call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. If you call 911, don’t leave anyone alone before emergency responders arrive.
Not sure which one it is?
If you’re not sure whether you’re experiencing a crisis or an emergency, give us a call. We can help you figure that out and make a plan of what to do next.
How to Access Services:
Just call Here 24/7, anytime day or night.
Services Available in:
Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph, Wellington
CMHA Waterloo Wellington, the lead agency for Here 24/7 is a proud partner in 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline.