Crisis Stabilization Services, Program, and Treatment Plan in Fort Lauderdale, South Florida

Difference Between Crisis Stabilization and Crisis Intervention

Crisis intervention typically involves immediate response and emergency mental health support provided during crises to ensure safety and stability. It focuses on crisis de-escalation methods, emotional support, and connecting individuals with appropriate resources and services. Crisis intervention teams aim to address the immediate crisis and prevent harm but may not necessarily provide ongoing treatment or stabilization.

On the other hand, crisis stabilization offers intensive, short-term treatment and support aimed at stabilizing individuals’ mental health conditions following a crisis. It involves comprehensive assessment, medication management, therapeutic interventions, and monitoring to address acute symptoms and prevent further escalation.

Crisis stabilization programs often provide a structured and therapeutic environment where individuals can receive intensive care from a multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals. The goal is to address the immediate crisis and promote long-term stability and recovery by addressing underlying mental health issues and connecting individuals with appropriate follow-up care and support services.

Understanding the distinction between crisis intervention and crisis stabilization can help you access the most appropriate level of care during mental health emergencies and facilitate your or a loved one’s journey toward healing and recovery. Contact us to schedule your free assessment today.

Stats Related to Crisis Stabilization in Florida

In the fiscal year 2011-2012, Crisis Stabilization Units (CSUs) in Florida served 41,060 individuals, with adults comprising the majority. However, children and adolescents are the state’s main recipients of crisis stabilization services. Additionally, from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022, 135 adults resided in crisis residences supported by Florida’s State Mental Health Agency Systems.

Florida offers mental health treatment centers that integrate crisis stabilization units and addiction-receiving facilities for individuals with dual diagnoses. A study on psychiatric patients in Florida Emergency Departments (EDs) found that extended stays were common, particularly among those with suicidality or schizophrenia.

Crisis Stabilization Units (CSUs)

Many wonder, “What is a crisis stabilization unit?” Crisis Stabilization Units (CSUs) offer crucial immediate care for acute mental health crises. They provide a safe environment with multidisciplinary professionals for short-term stays. Patients receive medication management, therapeutic interventions, and support to stabilize their condition. CSUs can assist when navigating through difficult moments toward recovery.

Mobile Crisis Response Teams

Mobile crisis response teams provide immediate support and intervention to individuals experiencing mental health crises in their own environment. These mental health crisis response teams consist of social workers, trained crisis intervention specialists, and other mental health professionals. They respond to calls and provide on-site crisis assessment and stabilization.

Emergency Departments

Emergency departments (EDs) serve as critical access points for individuals experiencing mental health crises, providing immediate care and support when needed. These departments are staffed with healthcare professionals trained to assess and manage psychiatric emergencies, such as suicidal ideation, severe agitation, or acute psychosis. However, keep in mind that most EDs don’t have full-time mental health professionals.

While emergency departments provide essential initial support, they’ll likely facilitate referrals to specialty mental health treatment centers, resources, and other crisis support services.

Residential Crisis Stabilization Programs

Residential crisis stabilization programs offer a supportive, structured environment for individuals experiencing acute mental health crises. A residential treatment facility provides round-the-clock care and monitoring by a multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals, including psychiatrists and counselors. Individuals receive intensive treatment, medication management, therapeutic interventions, and other support to stabilize their condition and prevent further escalation of symptoms.

They focus on creating a safe and therapeutic environment and typically offer a holistic approach to crisis intervention. Addressing individuals’ physical, emotional, and social needs, these inpatient treatment centers can provide the comprehensive care needed to navigate challenging times and begin the journey toward recovery.

Telepsychiatry Services

Telepsychiatry services offer a convenient and accessible way for individuals to receive psychiatric care remotely using videoconferencing technology. These services connect individuals with licensed psychiatrists and mental health professionals who can provide assessments, medication management, therapy sessions, and crisis intervention from a distance.

Telepsychiatry services eliminate barriers to accessing mental healthcare, such as geographical distance, transportation challenges, and scheduling conflicts, making it easier to receive timely and effective treatment. By leveraging technology, telepsychiatry services ensure access to the necessary support, regardless of location, helping to improve mental health outcomes and enhance overall well-being.

Additionally, here are some steps you can take to locate a crisis stabilization treatment program or healthcare facility that specializes in behavioral health stabilization in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida, area:

• Contact Local Mental Health Agencies, community therapy clinics, or behavioral health centers. Many should have information on psychiatric emergency services in your preferred area.
• Contact Hospitals and Emergency Departments to inquire about crisis stabilization services offered by medical treatment centers in the Fort Lauderdale area, particularly those with psychiatric stabilization units or that offer specialized mental health services.
• Contact Crisis Hotlines or helplines for immediate support and guidance. Trained counselors can provide information about local crisis stabilization services and specialty treatment centers, connecting you with appropriate resources.
• Consult with Mental Health Professionals, such as therapists, counselors, or psychiatrists, familiar with crisis stabilization treatment programs in the Fort Lauderdale area.
• Use Online Search Engines like Google and enter keywords such as “crisis stabilization unit near me.” You can also try more specific keywords like “holistic treatment center specializing in psychiatric crisis intervention,” followed by your precise location.

Crisis Intervention

Crisis intervention is a short-term, goal-oriented approach to resolve immediate crises and prevent further escalation. It involves providing immediate support, assessment, and intervention to individuals experiencing acute distress or instability. Crisis intervention techniques focus on enhancing coping mechanisms, fostering emotional regulation, and facilitating access to appropriate resources and support systems.

The goal is to stabilize the individual in crisis, promote safety, and empower them to navigate the situation effectively. Techniques used in crisis intervention may include active listening, problem-solving, psychoeducation, and referrals to specialized services or ongoing therapy as needed.

Supportive Counseling

Supportive counseling is a therapeutic approach designed to comfort, encourage, and validate individuals facing challenges or distressing circumstances. Unlike more intensive forms of therapy, crisis counseling services aim to create a safe, empathetic environment where individuals can explore their feelings, gain perspective, and develop coping strategies.

This approach emphasizes active listening, empathy, and nonjudgmental support, helping clients feel understood and accepted. Supportive counseling can be particularly beneficial during times of crisis, grief, or transition, providing a valuable space for individuals to express themselves, process emotions, and strengthen their resilience.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a highly effective therapeutic approach focusing on connecting thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It helps individuals identify and challenge negative thought patterns and beliefs that contribute to distress, replacing them with more adaptive ones. CBT teaches coping skills and problem-solving techniques through structured sessions and practical exercises.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a specialized form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) developed to address intense emotional dysregulation and self-destructive behaviors. It combines elements of mindfulness, acceptance, and cognitive restructuring to help individuals build skills in emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, distress tolerance, and mindfulness.

DBT emphasizes balancing acceptance and change, encouraging clients to acknowledge their current experiences while working towards positive behavioral changes. This comprehensive approach has shown effectiveness in treating conditions such as borderline personality disorder, substance abuse, and eating disorders, offering a structured framework for managing crises and fostering long-term stability and growth.

Trauma-Informed Therapy

Trauma-informed therapy recognizes the widespread impact of trauma on individuals’ mental, emotional, and physical well-being. It emphasizes creating a safe, supportive environment where individuals feel empowered, validated, and understood. Trauma-informed therapists prioritize building trust, promoting autonomy, and fostering collaboration with clients, recognizing that trauma survivors may have unique needs and responses to treatment.

By integrating knowledge about the effects of trauma into therapy, this approach aims to minimize re-traumatization, facilitate healing, and empower individuals to regain a sense of control over their lives.

Psychoeducation

Psychoeducation involves providing information and tools about mental health conditions, coping strategies, and treatment options to empower individuals. It covers topics such as understanding mental health disorders, managing emotions, and accessing support resources. By increasing knowledge and awareness, psychoeducation aims to reduce stigma, enhance self-efficacy, and improve overall mental health outcomes.

Antipsychotics

Antipsychotic medications are often prescribed in crises to rapidly address acute symptoms, such as psychosis, agitation, and aggression, and promote stabilization. However, it’s important to note that these are not cures, and healthcare professionals should closely monitor their use due to the potential for side effects and interactions with other medications. Here are several commonly prescribed antipsychotics:

• Risperidone (Risperdal) is an atypical antipsychotic frequently used for treating schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and irritability often associated with autism. It works by balancing chemical messengers, dopamine and serotonin, in the brain, helping to alleviate psychotic symptoms and stabilize mood, thinking, and behavior.
• Olanzapine (Zyprexa): Olanzapine is another atypical antipsychotic also prescribed for acute agitation in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar mania. Olanzapine works by blocking dopamine and serotonin receptors, thereby reducing psychotic symptoms and stabilizing mood.
• Quetiapine (Seroquel): Quetiapine is an atypical antipsychotic approved for treating schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. It balances dopamine and serotonin receptors to alleviate psychotic symptoms and regulate mood, thoughts, and behaviors.
• Aripiprazole (Abilify): Aripiprazole is a type of antipsychotic medication used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. These medications regulate dopamine levels by reducing its action when it’s excessive and increasing it when it’s deficient, effectively addressing both dopamine excess and deficit. This unique mechanism of action may help to reduce the risk of specific side effects while still effectively managing symptoms of psychosis and mood instability.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines are commonly used in crisis stabilization to manage acute anxiety, agitation, and insomnia. Their use should be limited to short-term and as-needed due to the risk of tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal symptoms. Additionally, benzodiazepines should be used with caution in individuals with a history of substance abuse or respiratory conditions due to their potential for respiratory depression and overdose.

Here are several benzodiazepines frequently prescribed for such purposes:

• Lorazepam (Ativan): Lorazepam is a fast-acting benzodiazepine often used to manage anxiety disorders, panic attacks, and agitation in the short term. It enhances gamma-aminobutyric acid’s (GABA) effects, a neurotransmitter that reduces brain activity, leading to feelings of relaxation and sedation.
• Diazepam (Valium): Diazepam is a benzodiazepine with a longer duration of action compared to lorazepam. It’s commonly prescribed for anxiety disorder treatment, muscle spasms, and alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Diazepam exerts its effects by enhancing GABA activity in the brain, resulting in sedation, muscle relaxation, and anxiolytic effects.
• Alprazolam (Xanax): Alprazolam is a potent benzodiazepine used primarily for the management of panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). It has a rapid onset of action, making it suitable for acute anxiety episodes. Alprazolam works by increasing the activity of GABA in the brain, leading to a calming effect and reduction in anxiety symptoms.
• Clonazepam (Klonopin): Clonazepam is a longer-acting benzodiazepine commonly prescribed for panic disorder, seizure disorders, and social anxiety disorder. It functions by reducing irregular electrical activity within the brain.

Mood Stabilizers

Mood stabilizers are commonly used in crisis stabilization to manage mood swings and prevent episodes of mania, hypomania, and depression. However, they require careful monitoring and may take time to achieve optimal effectiveness. Close collaboration with healthcare professionals is essential to ensure the safe, appropriate use of mood stabilizers in crises.

Here are several mood stabilizers frequently prescribed for such purposes:

• Lithium (Lithobid): Lithium is a well-established mood stabilizer used to treat bipolar disorder. It helps stabilize mood by modulating neurotransmitter activity in the brain, particularly serotonin and norepinephrine. Lithium is effective in reducing manic episodes’ frequency and severity and may also help prevent depressive episodes.
• Valproic acid (Depakote): Valproic acid is an anticonvulsant medication that is also used as a mood stabilizer in bipolar disorder treatment. It works by increasing the levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that has calming effects on the brain. Valproic acid is effective in controlling mania and may also have antidepressant properties.
• Lamotrigine (Lamictal): Lamotrigine is an anticonvulsant medication approved for the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder. It works in a way that scientists don’t fully understand yet. It’s a type of medication called triazine, which attaches to sodium channels in the brain. These channels help stabilize how nerve cells communicate with each other. By doing this, it may lower the release of certain brain chemicals linked to seizures or mood changes.
• Carbamazepine (Tegretol): Carbamazepine is an anticonvulsant medication that is sometimes used as a mood stabilizer in the treatment of bipolar disorder. It helps keep the electrical activity in the brain and nerves steady. For epilepsy, carbamazepine stops the buildup of electrical signals in the brain’s nerve cells. It also lowers the release of a chemical called glutamate, which an excess of can trigger seizures.

Antidepressants

Antidepressants are commonly used in crisis stabilization to manage symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders. However, they may take several weeks to reach their full therapeutic effect, and close monitoring by healthcare professionals is essential to ensure safe and appropriate use. Adjustments to dosage or medication may be necessary based on individual response and tolerability.

Here are several antidepressants frequently prescribed for such purposes:

• Sertraline (Zoloft): Sertraline is a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) that is widely used to treat depression, panic disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and social anxiety disorder. It works by increasing serotonin levels, a neurotransmitter involved in regulating mood, in the brain. Sertraline is effective in reducing depressive symptoms and preventing relapse.
• Fluoxetine (Prozac): Fluoxetine is another SSRI commonly prescribed for depression, OCD, panic disorder, and bulimia nervosa. It works by inhibiting serotonin reuptake, leading to increased serotonin levels in the brain. Fluoxetine is known for its long half-life, which allows for once-daily dosing and may improve medication adherence.
• Venlafaxine (Effexor): Venlafaxine, classified as an SNRI (Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor), is prescribed to address major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder. It works by blocking the reuptake of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, increasing the levels of these neurotransmitters in the brain.

• Escitalopram (Lexapro): Escitalopram is an SSRI commonly prescribed for depression and generalized anxiety disorder. It is thought to have fewer side effects and works by increasing serotonin levels in the brain, leading to improvements in mood and anxiety symptoms.

Sedatives/Hypnotics

Sedatives and hypnotics are commonly used in crisis stabilization to manage acute insomnia, anxiety, and agitation. These sedatives/hypnotics can effectively promote relaxation, reduce stress, and improve sleep quality during crises. However, they should be used cautiously and for short-term relief due to the risk of tolerance, dependence, and other adverse effects.

Here are several sedatives/hypnotics frequently prescribed in crisis situations:

• Zolpidem (Ambien): Zolpidem is a sedative-hypnotic medication used primarily for the short-term treatment of insomnia. It works by enhancing the activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that reduces brain activity and promotes relaxation. Zolpidem helps individuals fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer, improving sleep quality.
• Trazodone (Desyrel): Trazodone is an antidepressant medication commonly used off-label as a sleep aid due to its sedating properties. It works by blocking serotonin receptors and inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin, leading to sedation and drowsiness. Trazodone is often prescribed to individuals with insomnia who also have comorbid depression or anxiety.
• Hydroxyzine (Vistaril): Hydroxyzine is an antihistamine medication with sedative properties that is used to treat anxiety and tension. It blocks histamine receptors in the brain, leading to sedation and relaxation. Hydroxyzine is sometimes prescribed for acute anxiety and agitation in crises.
• Promethazine (Phenergan): Promethazine is an antihistamine medication often used for its sedative and anti-nausea effects. It works by blocking histamine receptors and has additional anticholinergic properties contributing to its sedating effects. Promethazine may be prescribed for short-term management of insomnia or anxiety during crisis situations.

Common Causes of Mental Health Crisis

Mental health crises can manifest in various forms and be triggered by many factors. Understanding the common causes of these crises can promote effective crisis prevention techniques and management, including implementing a crisis stabilization treatment plan. Though the following list isn’t exhaustive, each factor can contribute to the development of crises.

• Underlying Mental Health Conditions: Conditions like depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia can lead to crises when symptoms become severe or unmanageable.
• Stressful Life Events: Significant life changes such as the loss of a loved one, job loss, relationship problems, or financial difficulties can trigger or exacerbate mental health crises.
• Substance Use or Withdrawal: Substance abuse or sudden withdrawal from drugs or alcohol can disrupt brain chemistry, leading to acute psychiatric symptoms or crises.
• Trauma or Abuse: Past or recent experiences of trauma, abuse, or neglect can contribute to the development of mental health crises, especially when unresolved or untreated. Trauma treatment centers are typically equipped to provide emergency mental health support.
• Biological Factors: Genetic predisposition, hormonal imbalances, or neurological conditions can play a significant role in mental health crises.
• Poor Coping Skills: Individuals lacking effective coping strategies may struggle to manage stressors, increasing their vulnerability to mental health crises.
• Lack of Social Support: Isolation or inadequate support networks can intensify feelings of loneliness, hopelessness, and despair during difficult times, contributing to crises.
• Medical Conditions: Certain medical illnesses or conditions, such as chronic pain, neurological disorders, or hormonal imbalances, can impact mental health and precipitate crises.
• Medication Noncompliance: Stopping or improperly taking prescribed medications for mental health conditions can lead to relapse or worsening of symptoms, potentially resulting in crises.
• Environmental Factors: Factors such as poverty, homelessness, discrimination, or exposure to violence can create chronic stressors, increasing the risk of mental health crises.

How To Go to Treatment for Crisis Stabilization?

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis and requires treatment for stabilization, there are several steps you can take to seek help promptly. If the situation is urgent and potentially life-threatening, don’t hesitate to call emergency services or go to the nearest emergency room for immediate assistance.

If the crisis is not immediately life-threatening but requires urgent attention, you can contact local crisis hotlines, mental health helplines, or crisis intervention teams for guidance and assistance. These services are staffed by trained professionals who can offer support, assess the situation, and provide recommendations for appropriate next steps, which may include referrals to crisis management services, mental health professionals, or community resources. Reaching out to trusted family members, friends, or healthcare providers can also be a valuable source of support and guidance in accessing treatment for crisis stabilization.

Additionally, you can call 877-958-9212 to speak with a kind and knowledgeable patient advocate at The Sylvia Brafman Mental Health Center, who can provide information on crisis stabilization services, including our outpatient treatment center in South Florida. Remember that seeking help is a proactive step towards recovery, and you are not alone in facing mental health challenges.