Helpful Information for Parents/Guardians of Children Experiencing a Mental Health Crisis

Helpful Information for

PARENTS/GUARDIANS OF CHILDREN EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS

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CONTENTS What to Expect if Your Child is Sent to an Inpatient Facility for Acute Care...............................................4-5

What to Expect if Your Child is Sent to an Inpatient Facility for Residential Care....................................6-7

Questions Parents Can Ask Health Professionals............................8

Other Important Health Information to Remember..........................9

Medical, Mental Health, and Police Numbers for Pushmataha County.......................................................................... 10

Notes.......................................................................................................11-14

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What to Expect if Your Child Is Sent to an Inpatient Facility for Acute Care Acute care is brief behavioral health treatment, usually 3-7 days.

1.

Once your child is taken to the ER (Emergency Room) and assessed, they will be medically cleared, and the staff will begin looking for a bed for your child at an acute care facility.

2.

If a bed is found, you will be responsible for transporting your child to the acute care facility and signing paperwork.

• If a bed is not found, your child will be sent home with a safety plan or kept at the ER for observation.

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3.

Most acute care facilities allow patients to bring three changes of clothing, socks, and shoes without laces. No clothes or shoes with strings or laces are allowed. Other personal belongings (e.g., phone, wallet, etc.,) will be temporarily secured by the facility, or the family can take them home.

4.

Acute care facilities will keep individuals for about 3-7 days to make sure the child is mentally stable. During this time, you will be given a code to use to call and check in. The therapist at the facility will also arrange for family sessions via telephone, as well as in-person family therapy, when possible.

5.

During the stay, your child will be offered a range of services to help de-escalate (decrease) the crisis and stabilize their mental state. These may include routine safety checks, psychiatric medications, individual and/or group psychotherapy, and recreational therapy (music, arts, yoga, etc.).

6.

The acute care facility will call and let you know when your child is being discharged. You will be responsible for picking up your child from the facility and transporting home.

7.

When your child is being discharged, the acute care facility will schedule a follow-up appointment with an outpatient facility in your area. If you already have an outpatient service you use, be sure to let the acute care facility know that. If no appointment was made, they might give you a referral and instructions to contact an outpatient facility for an appointment.

8.

If medications were prescribed by the facility, then a prescription will be sent to the pharmacy of your choice. In some cases, your child will be discharged with 7 days’ worth of medication; however, each facility is different.

9.

Outpatient appointments may or may not include telehealth (an appointment by computer or phone) for medication refills. If your child does not have a telehealth appointment, you may need to follow up with your child’s primary care physician.

10. Be sure to take all discharge paperwork and medications to your follow-up appointment with the outpatient facility.

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What to Expect if Your Child Is Sent to an Inpatient Facility for Residential Care Residential care is long-term behavioral health treatment, usually more than 7 days.

1.

If your child does not meet criteria to be placed in acute care (criteria include being actively suicidal/homicidal), the next step the coordinator will take is to call residential facilities to see if a spot is available.

• Criteria for admission may include any physical aggression towards others within the last 48-72 hours, and up to two weeks prior, and an escalating pattern of self-injurious or assaultive behaviors such as physical aggression (hitting or shoving others, throwing things at others, etc.,); domestic violence (causing physical harm to someone in the home); behavioral problems at school involving physical altercation with teachers, peers, and/or staff; self-harm (cutting self, hitting head, punching self, etc.,); suicidal or homicidal ideation. Other criteria include no sexual offense history or sexually acting out; no autism spectrum disorder; IQ range must be higher than 70; must be medically cleared.

• If there is availability, an interview will be set up to complete assessment and intake of your child at the facility. If availability is not found, your child will be placed on a waiting list, and you will be contacted when a spot is available.

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2.

Most residential facilities allow patients to bring three changes of clothing, socks, and shoes without laces. No clothes or shoes with strings or laces are allowed. Other personal belongings (e.g., phone, wallet, etc.,) will be temporarily secured by the facility, or the family can take them home.

3.

Residential facilities will keep individuals two weeks or longer, depending on the progress of treatment. During this time, you will be given a code to use to call and check in. The therapist at the facility will also arrange for family sessions via telephone, as well as in-person family therapy, when possible.

4.

During the stay, your child will be offered a range of services to stabilize their mental state. These may include routine safety checks, psychiatric medications, individual and/or group psychotherapy, and recreational therapy (music, arts, yoga, etc.).

5.

Some residential facilities will enroll your child in a temporary schooling system. You will need to notify your child’s school of the placement at the residential facility and ask the residential facility about their schooling system.

6.

The residential facility will call and let you know when your child is being discharged. You will be responsible for picking up your child from the facility and transporting home.

7.

When your child is being discharged, the residential facility will schedule a follow-up appointment with an outpatient facility in your area. If you already have an outpatient service you use, be sure to let the residential facility know that. If no appointment was made, they might give you a referral and instructions to contact an outpatient facility for an appointment.

8.

If medications were prescribed by the facility, then a prescription will be sent to the pharmacy of your choice. In some cases, your child will be discharged with 7 days’ worth of medication; however, each facility is different.

9.

Outpatient appointments may or may not include telehealth (an appointment by computer or phone) for medication refills. If your child does not have a telehealth appointment, you may need to follow up with your child’s primary care physician.

10. Be sure to take all discharge paperwork and medications to your follow-up appointment with the outpatient facility.

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Questions Parents Can Ask Health Professionals • What things can I do at home to support my child and help him/her better cope with their mental health challenges?

• What are some resources I can use to help me better understand my child’s diagnosis or needs?

• What can I do to help myself cope in times of crisis or when I need more support?

• Does my child need a safety plan? If your child is at risk of experiencing a crisis (mental health emergency), ask your provider to help you create a safety plan.

• A safety plan is a written plan of what to do if your child is in crisis.

It will contain the specific steps to take and contact information of the people to contact during a crisis.

• How will I be involved with my child’s treatment?

• What does the treatment plan include?

• Is there evidence to show the success of this type of treatment for children?

• How will we know if the treatment is working?

• How long might it take before we see an improvement?

• If my child needs medication, how long does he or she need to be on this medication? What are some common side effects?

• What should I do if the problems get worse or I do not see any improvement?

• How often will we meet to review and discuss the effectiveness of the treatment plan?

Q’s

• Will the treatment plan change over time according to my child’s progress or changing needs?

• When is my child’s next appointment?

• Who do I call after hours, in an emergency, or with questions in general?

• Where do I go for any tests, medicine, and appointments that my child needs?

Sources: https://www.acmh-mi.org/get-information/childrens-mental-health-101/questions-ask-treatment/ Berkshire Medical Journal ISSN 1072-7671 Vol. 20 Number 1, Summer 2016

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Other Important Health Information to Remember Before the appointment…

• if necessary, take someone else with you to help you make notes, ask questions, or understand information.

• write down questions to ask healthcare professionals during the appointment.

• write down things related to your child’s health such as changes in mood/feelings/behaviors, side effects of medicines, crises he or she has been experiencing, etc., and tell the healthcare professional at your appointment.

• take all medicines and supplements to your appointment, or make a list and take it with you.

At the appointment…

• tell the healthcare professional if your child has not been taking medicines and the reasons why. Be open and honest about this.

• write down important information such as the answers to your questions, or if someone else is with you, ask him/her to help you make notes, ask questions, etc.

• ask for copies of your child’s medical records and keep track of important information.

• ask health professionals to use simple language to help you understand.

• make sure your child’s needs are met, don’t be afraid to ask questions, and be honest and open.

• tell your healthcare professional of any changes in your child’s health and of life changes that may cause anxiety, stress, or depression, such as death, divorce, etc.

• repeat, in your own words, the information which healthcare professionals share with you to make sure you understand.

• ask health professionals to show you how to use any device or equipment, and practice using it before you leave.

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Medical, Mental Health, & Police Numbers for Pushmataha County Helplines Youth Mobile Crisis Line

833-885-2273

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

988

Suicide Help Text Line

Text HELP to 741741

Medical Care Choctaw Nation Health Care

1-800-349-7026

Pushmataha Hospital

580-298-3341

HRH Medical Group - Antlers Family Healthcare

580-749-4065

Rowland-Flatt Clinic

580-298-3351

Restore Family Medical Clinic

580-298-9063

Pushmataha Family Medical Center

918-569-4143

Outpatient Agencies Choctaw Nation Health Care & After-hours Crisis

1-800-349-7026

Quest MHSA, LLC – Counseling

580-298-3001

Brighter Heights Oklahoma

580-298-2830

Crossroads 10/10, LLC

580-271-7080

Serenity Behavioral Services, PLLC

580-271-7055

Zen Gee Counseling

580-298-5062

Law Enforcement

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Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Tribal Police

580-920-1517

Pushmataha County Sheriff’s Office

580-298-2475

Antlers Police Department

580-298-5513

Rattan Police Department

580-982-3309

Clayton Police Department

918-569-4135

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This resource is funded by the Southern Plains Tribal Health Board’s Circles of Care grant # 6H79SM083038 awarded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Center for Mental Health Services.