Tools for de-escalation during a mental health crisis: Actions we can all take to help

Trauma, stress, mental health challenges, and more can all lead to crisis situations. Often trans/nonbinary people seek support from friends, family, or other community members before, instead of, or in addition to help from professionals. In this webinar, participants will learn some of the causes of high stress or crisis situations, neurological processes that increase intense emotions, tools for responding in affirming, safer ways, and how to practice self-awareness and set boundaries while caring for others. By working together we can help to create supportive communities and mutual aid. 

Resource links and notes from this presentation: https://forge-forward.org/resource/re…

Welcome and housekeeping 0:00
Who is FORGE? 1:42
Webinar agenda 3:59
Looking inwards: self-awareness, boundaries, & checking in 9:13
Recognizing crises 17:54

Increasing support and safety 26:40
Specific tools: Panic attacks 42:56
Specific tools: Suicide 47:58
Specific tools: Disconnect from reality 55:18
Breathing break 58:20

Additional considerations 59:35
After a crisis 1:12:03
Caring for yourself while caring for others 1:13:32
Q: Tips for handling threatening/violent behavior 1:15:28
Resource sharing 1:18:52

Presenter: Emil Rudicell

Recorded August 8, 2023.