Crisis Resources

On this page:

Crisis Contacts

Call 911, go to the emergency room, or call the local crisis line services if you need them. 24-hour crisis numbers:

Linn County: 541-967-3866; Eves and
weekends 800-560-5535 (800# is for answering
service; counselor on duty will call back)

Marion County: Northwest Human Services Crisis Line
(will transfer to Psychiatric Crisis Center if necessary)

503-581-5535

503-588-5821

800-560-5535

Psychiatric Crisis Center: 503-585-4949 24 hours/day

Polk County: 503-623-9289; after hours and weekends 503-581-5535 or 800-560-5535

Tillamook County: 503-842-8201, dial 0; after hours and weekends they will page crisis worker who will call you back

Yamhill County: 503-43407523; after hours and weekends 800-560-5535

Outside of these counties, the following website provides a listing of crisis hotlines: www.suicidehotlines.com

Oregon Mental Health Center Listings

About crisis

Crisis is scary, but it is also a time when people often become more open to learning. By getting through the crisis successfully, you become stronger and more prepared for future situations.
With time, you can avoid or reduce crisis by being aware of your unique early warning signs and situations that trigger symptoms or crisis. Plan ahead for these situations. Know what you will do.
It is helpful to keep a small card with you at all times which lists warning signs, what to do and who to call.
Keep phone numbers for your counselor and for crisis services in several places around your house, as well as in your wallet.
A person may be at risk for crisis when symptoms start to get better, as they confront losses they may have experienced.

What to do when you are in crisis:

Go someplace safe.
Reach out for support. Be with others who are positive and understanding.
Call your doctor, counselor and/or local crisis team. If you are experiencing severe psychosis, it is important to be with other people who understand how to help.
Follow your plan if you have one.
Break things down into small steps. One thing at a time.

Tips for friends and family

Take it seriously! If a person talks about suicide or is doing things that are dangerous, take it seriously. Don’t be afraid to ask someone if they are thinking of taking their own life if you suspect it may be true. If they are talking about suicide, ask whether they have a plan- if they have a plan and the means, they are at very high risk. Call for help immediately.
Do not accept aggressive behavior. Call for help immediately if this is occurring. Do not argue with or confront someone who is angry. Do not try to convince them that their ideas are wrong. Give them space and keep an exit route.
Write down specific, concise observations and give them to the crisis staff. Write down anything you observe which seems unsafe, including behavior changes leading up to it. What did you observe (be specific)? When? How long did it last? How severe was it? Is there a progression over time which shows things getting worse? What is the history of unsafe behavior related to symptoms? Make sure this information gets to anyone making important decisions.
Stay in touch with the counselor and doctor about what’s happening. Work as a team.
Call 911 if someone is getting aggressive or you feel unsafe. Let the 911 dispatcher and anyone who arrives on the scene know that it is a psychiatric emergency, and that the person has a mental illness and is unarmed.

More crisis tips for families (PDF)

What to expect when you call for help.

Local crisis teams. Each county has a crisis team which is responsible for assisting you in resolving potentially dangerous situations. These teams are available 24 hours per day, although each county has a slightly different approach. When you call, the person will talk you through the situation. Often crisis workers are focused on whether the person meets criteria for involuntary commitment. For more information on involuntary commitment, visit the Oregon Advocacy Center website www.oradvocacy.org. This standard can be hard to meet, and involuntary commitment is always viewed as a last resort. Counties may be able to arrange out-of-home respite or check-ins as an alternative.

When you call on the phone, crisis workers will assess whether to have you come in or whether to do outreach. If the person’s behavior is dangerous they will probably encourage you to call the police. If you bring the person to a hospital emergency room there is a law in Oregon requiring a crisis worker to do an evaluation, and if involuntary commitment is necessary it is easier to place a hold from that location. If you come into a crisis clinic or other location, they may have you go to an emergency room. Expect a long wait in the emergency room.

Crisis planning

The best thing to do is to work with your counselor from the very beginning to address possible crisis situations and to make sure that you have a very specific, written plan, with at least one, but preferably two, back-up plans. To begin with, you want to create a safe and healthy environment. The plan may address:

What you will do if symptoms get worse

What you will do in case of family conflict

Depending on the situation, your plan may also address what to do in case of escalating behavior due to alcohol/drug use, victimization by others, or inability to parent.

It is important to monitor medications and refill at least a week prior to running out.