If your relative is in danger of hurting himself, if his behavior is out of control or if other people are in danger, you need to know what steps to take. Plan ahead by locating available sources for help: your emergency phone number (911), police or sheriff department number, name and phone number of a mental health professional, Community Mental Health crisis or emergency number, friends or neighbors who may be of help. Keep these numbers posted by the telephone. Talk with your family member’s doctor or therapist ahead of time so you will know how to get services when you need them.

If you believe your relative's mental condition is getting worse, try to talk to him to find out what is going on. Everyone occasionally has a bad day. With a pending relapse, however, there will be more dramatic warning signs. Changes in sleep or social activities or increasing hostility and suspiciousness can signal a potential relapse. Try to get him to see a psychiatrist or his therapist. Your goal is to avoid a crisis.

If you need to call for help in a crisis, write down all the necessary information about your family member's diagnosis, medications, and a description of the specific behavior that led to the crisis. Take this information with you to the emergency room or the crisis unit. It also may be useful to have several copies to give to the police and to mental health professionals.

Some people with mental illness will disappear for periods of time only to be found later in a shelter, hospital or jail. This can be a frightening experience for the family. If your relative is missing, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill has set up a network of volunteers who may be able to help locate your missing relative. Call your local NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) for information or log onto: