Emergency mental health screening services are available 24 hours a day for all ages.
If a child attempts to kill themselves in any way, even if no actual harm is done. For example, deliberately cutting themselves, wrapping a rope around the neck with intent to hang (even if there is no further action), walking along the road with the thought of jumping in front of a car, jumping out of a moving car, etc.
If a child states a clear plan to kill themselves, even if it is said in anger or despair, even it seems manipulative. "If you break up with me, I will take this bottle of pills" is worth a trip to the ER. The ONLY exception is for commonly used figures of speech ("Oh, shoot me!" or "I'm so embarrassed I could jump off a cliff." but not "I'm so embarassed I think I'll drive down to Purgatory Chasm and jump off the big rock at the end.") Even if they said it to a friend and seem better now (some kids seem better because they've just taken an overdose and haven't told anyone).
If a child threatens to kill someone and has a plan to do so, or is repeatedly talking about someone dying, or is found with a weapon.
If a child repeatedly talks about dying and suicide, if they have become withdrawn and secretive, if they give away their prize possessions, and/or if they write goodbye letters of any kind.
If the child appears to be interacting with people or things that are not there, is behaving bizarrely, and can't stop (the way one might if caught up in an imaginary game) or seems distressed in any way.
If the child is taking lamotrigine (Lamictal) and has a rapidly spreading rash, especially in or around the mouth.
Police or an Ambulance can pick up a child and transport them for emergency evaluation if he/she appears to be a danger to himself or anyone else because of a mental illness.
Explain to the police what the danger is and what the mental illness is and what you want them to do. For example: "Please help me get my son to EMHS. He has been depressed, he has threatened to kill himself and barricaded himself in his room."
If you are not sure what to do, or if you are faced with a crisis that is not as severe as those listed above, or if you are on your way to the ER, please call the emergency clinician at PBH.
To Access the PBH emergency on-call Clinician, call the main number, 508-835-1735, and follow the instructions for the emergency line. Leave a detailed message. The voicemail system will page the on-call clinician, who will call you back. Be sure to leave a phone number!