Medical and Legal Information Disclaimer and Legal Agreement

By using this booklet, the reader agrees to be bound by the terms

and conditions below.
The information contained in Planning for and Responding to a
Mental Health Crisis (Crisis Booklet) is subject to constant change.
Further, the information contained herein is intended for general infor-
mation purposes only. It is not to be considered medical or legal
advice, and it is not intended to replace consultation with a qualified
medical and/or psychiatric professional, or competent legal counsel.
The information contained herein is not intended to dictate what con-
stitutes reasonable, appropriate or best care for any given issue or cir-
cumstance.
Individuals should consult a qualified health care provider for medi-
cal and/or psychiatric advice, and with competent legal counsel for
legal advice. While attempts have been made to make the information
in this booklet as accurate as possible, it should not be relied upon as
being comprehensive or error-free.

Disclaimer of Liability

Planning for and

Under no circumstances shall NAMI Indiana, its employees, agents,
officers, directors or volunteers, or its affiliated organizations or anyone
else involved in creating or maintaining this Crisis Booklet be liable for
any DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL

Responding to a
DAMAGES OR LOSS that result from the use of information contained
in this Crisis Booklet.

Disclaimer of Endorsement

Mental Health Crisis

Reference to any services or third parties does not constitute or
imply its endorsement, sponsorship, or recommendation by NAMI
Indiana, its employees, agents, officers, directors or volunteers, or its
affiliated organizations or anyone else involved in creating or maintain-
ing this Crisis Booklet. These references are provided for information
and convenience only.

NAMI Indiana
P.O. Box 22697
Indianapolis, Indiana 46222
1-800-677-6442
www.namiindiana.org
 Crisis Quick Guide
If you are in immediate crisis, use this page to guide you through a conver-
sation with 911 dispatch and/or emergency responders. You can give respond-
ers this page. See printables on the NAMI Indiana website (www.namiindiana.
org/find-help-during-a-crisis) and read through this booklet to complete a
more complete mental health history to provide to hospital/treatment staff.

Observations of Current Concerning Behavior

(Check all that apply and briefly describe below.)

Individual is incapable of self-care (see page 13-14).

Individual has suicidal thoughts/plans.

Individual is verbally or physically abusive.

Individual is behaving in unusual/irrational way.

Individual is verbally or physically threatening.

Medical and Insurance Information

Diagnosis(es) (if known) -

Current Medications and Dosages and Allergies (if known)

Name Phone Number

Primary Care Provider
Primary MH Provider

Primary Secondary (if applic.)

Insurance Company
Insured ID Number
Group Policy ID
 TABLE of CONTENTS
Crisis Quick Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Front Cover
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Planning Ahead. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
How Do I Prepare for a Mental Health Crisis? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Who to Call in an Emergency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Hospitals and Emergency Departments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Legal Basis for Detentions & Involuntary Commitment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Detentions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Immediate Detention. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Emergency Detention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Physician/Judicial Hold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Commitments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Some Common Questions Concerning Commitment Proceedings . . . . . . . 10
Social Security:IMPORTANT! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Juveniles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
What You Can Do to Facilitate the Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Keeping a Mental Health History. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Alternatives to Involuntary Commitment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Community Mental Health Centers in Indiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Medical and Legal Information Disclaimer and Legal Agreement . . . . . . . Back Cover
i ii
PREFACE
When a person is in a psychiatric crisis, it is imperative to be able to get him or
her into treatment as quickly as possible. This situation can present a very significant
challenge that we hope this booklet will help you meet successfully.
In the booklet itself, we will describe the general parameters of what to do to
get help in a psychiatric crisis. As you are probably aware, there are 25 Community
Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) with office locations serving 92 counties in Indiana.
Each of these CMHCs has its unique set procedures, and so it will be critical to con-
tact the one serving the county in which your person in crisis resides, to become
cognizant of what these procedures are. Contact information is on pages 17 - 20 of
this booklet.
We sincerely hope that this booklet will help you in dealing effectively with a psy-
chiatric crisis. We realize, however, that it will have shortcomings; some in the second
edition have been corrected in this fourth edition. We heartily welcome any sugges-
tions you have for its improvement. Send your suggestions to NAMI Indiana, P.O.
Box 22697, Indianapolis, Indiana 46222, or by e-mail to Joe Vanable (JVanable@fron-
tier.com). For additional copies of this booklet, please call NAMI Indiana at 317-925-
9399 or 800-677-6442, and we will send one free of charge.
This booklet is the brainchild of Abby Flynn, who, up to the point of her hospi-
talization for heart valve replacement surgery, chaired the committee that produced
it. Her drive, focus, and indomitable spirit provided the wherewithal that made this
booklet a reality. Sadly, Abby did not survive this difficult surgery, and so she was
deprived of the pleasure of seeing it actually produced in final form. We dedicate
this booklet to Abbys memory; it is one of many examples of the good things that
have resulted from her very active and fruitful life with NAMI Indiana.
If you read through this NAMI Indiana booklet and visit the accompanying web
site and you still do not find the answer to your questions, you are not alone. Of the
92 counties, few provide identical services to people with mental illnesses. Feel free
to contact the Community Mental Health Center(s) serving your county for further
clarification. Contact information will be found at each of their web sites.
This is the very reason that NAMI Indiana Affiliates have been formed and con-
tinue to be active in advocating for services. They persevere, they persevere, they
persevere; they never give up in working with the Community Mental Health Centers
to improve the services to our loved ones.
This is your opportunity to bring your questions to light. Gather your NAMI
Indiana neighbors together and work with your Community Mental Health Center for
your loved one's services.
It works!
NAMIIndiana Crisis Booklet Committee
Indianapolis, February 2017
 INTRODUCTION
Mental illnesses are biological brain disorders that if left untreated, can disrupt a
person's thinking, feelings, mood, or ability to relate to others in his or her daily func-
tioning. Most people with serious mental illnesses live successfully in their communi-
ties as long as they have access to appropriate support and treatment.
Sometimes people stop taking their medications or their medications stop
working. In addition, some individuals with mental illness have anosognosia, mean-
ing that they are unaware of their mental illness, and so do not believe they have a
mental illness. They do not acknowledge their symptoms or have insight into their
illness and thus do not think they need treatment. All of these things can result in
people with mental illnesses not being able to care for themselves or becoming a
danger to themselves or to others.
In these situations, it may become necessary to have a court order to get the
person into treatment. The process of obtaining a court order is called the Civil
Commitment process. It has two main purposes:
To treat persons with mental illnesses when they are unable or unwilling to
seek treatment voluntarily
To protect the person with mental illness and others from harm due to the ill-
ness
The Civil Commitment process involves the legal system and can be confusing
or intimidating for individuals with mental illness and their families. Civil commit-
ment can be a very emotionally difficult path to take and is viewed as a last resort,
when nothing else has worked.
Recent discoveries have shown that mental illness is very treatable with medica-
tions and other therapies. At times, however, the medications may not work well
enough, or people with mental illness may refuse to take their medications or see
their doctor or therapist. When this happens, persons may become isolated, and lose
their job or even their housing. In some situations, such persons may lead a life that
involves homelessness, jail or prison. Sometimes commitment is the only way to get a
loved one back to functioning better.
This booklet is designed to help individuals and families understand the Civil
Commitment process. First, this booklet provides suggestions for handling mental
health emergencies before the commitment process begins. Then, it outlines the
steps involved in the Civil Commitment process. Next, it explains what happens if a
person with mental illness is committed and discusses alternatives to involuntary
commitment. Finally, contact information for Indianas Community Mental Health
Centers and additional resources are provided at the end of this booklet.
Throughout the booklet, people who have committed loved ones provide advice
and comments about the Civil Commitment process. It is not an easy process; fami-
lies need to understand the process and be strong advocates for treatment in order
to gain access to it for their loved one.
While initially my son was upset with the family over his commitment, in the
end he was thankful. He now lives in an apartment with community supports
and is working. Without the commitment, I don't want to think about where he
would have ended up. CL
When deciding what is best for your loved one who has mental illness, the
reality is that you have only one choice. Hopes and dreams will have to wait
until hopefully a better day. ET
1 2
PLANNING AHEAD
Discuss with the person with mental illness the preparation of a Psychiatric
Advance Directive (PAD; discussed on p. 14) and the option of signing a Power of
Attorney and/or Appointment of a Health Care Representative.
Everyone should plan ahead by signing a Power of Attorney and appointing a
Health Care Representative. Anyone can suffer a medical crisis and be unable tem-
porarily to handle his or her own affairs.
Power of Attorney and Health Care Representatives can only be appointed
when a person is well enough to make his or her own decisions. A Power of
Attorney or Health Care Representative can only be used when a person is unable
due to illness or detention to make his or her own decisions.
This type of planning can help avoid court-ordered intervention or loss of hous-
ing or property or benefits if the person becomes unable to act for him/herself.
These forms are simple to fill out and available on line, from your attorney, or
from many hospitals or organizations for the aged or disabled.
On pages 17 - 20 of this booklet, you will find listed all of Indianas
Community Mental Health Centers, with addresses, phone numbers
and web sites. On the inside front cover is a Crisis Quick Guide that
is a useful tool for pre-planning for dealing with a psychiatric crisis.
HOW DO I PREPARE FOR A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS?
A mental health or behavioral emergency often triggers the concern of family
members or friends who may then consider Civil Commitment for the person with
mental illness. Knowing how to handle these emergencies requires preparation.
Having information about emergency rooms and the mental health examiners who
handle emergencies will better prepare you for helping a person with mental illness
in managing his mental health crisis.
To be well prepared for a crisis, collect and keep in an accessible place the fol-
lowing:
1. The name, address, and phone number of the last known psychiatrist of the
person with mental illness. (Regardless of any release of information, this
information is helpful for emergency responders.) Have a copy of a
Psychiatric Advance Directive form, if available, Power of Attorney documen-
tation, and Health Representative form.
2. The name, address, and phone number of the last known therapist or case
manager of the person with mental illness.
3. A list of current medications or last known medications.
4. A list of any previous medications that resulted in serious side effects.
5. The diagnosis of the person with mental illness, if known.
6. Any medical diagnosis or condition such as diabetes, high blood pressure,
seizure disorder or any other ongoing medical condition.
7. Information on the clients use or abuse of alcohol, prescribed medications or
illegal drugs. Be as realistic as possible, as this information is important in an
emergency.
8. A list of the approximate dates and facility names of any previous hospitaliza-
tions.
9. Emergency numbers for the Community Mental Health Center or emergency-
coordinating agency in the County in which your loved one resides.
 WHO TO CALL IN AN EMERGENCY
Assess the situation of the person with mental illness. If he or she is not in
immediate danger, call his or her psychiatrist, clinic nurse, therapist or case manager.
If the hospital in your loved ones area has a psychiatric service, many will also have a
crisis or assessment center. These centers also can provide assistance and advice.
Or you may call your local Community Mental Health Center (CMHC). Every CMHC
has emergency service personnel to advise, direct or assist in an emergency, urgent
situation or continuing decline of the affected persons condition.
Remember: If your loved one does not live in your community, you can make all
of these inquiries and arrangements for facilities in the county in which your loved
one resides. If your loved one lives in another state, contact that state's NAMI (via
the nami.org web site; click on Find Your Local NAMI) for information about that
state's CMHCs and their contact information.
Some police departments, when requested, will do what is generally known as a
well-being check. This may be appropriate if you have little information about the
current condition of the person with mental illness, but you have good reason to be
concerned about the individual. (For example, if you are used to seeing or talking
with the person frequently or at certain times and you cannot reach him or her, or if
the person has just called you and said something that causes you concern.) In such
an instance, you can call your local police department number to see if an officer can
check on the well being of the person with mental illness.
Keep the phone numbers for all of these resources where you can find them in a
hurry. Every community has at least two places to call: The Community Mental
Health Center, even if it is located in a different city, and the local Police or Sheriff
Department.
If you are worried that the person with mental illness is in crisis or is nearing a crisis,
there are ways that you can seek help. Before choosing which option to pursue, assess
the situation. Consider whether the person is in danger of self-harm, or harming others
or property, or if s/he is unable to manage daily living. Consider whether you need
emergency assistance, guidance or support.
Depending upon the situation, choose one of the following options:
1. If you do not believe the person is in immediate danger, call the persons
psychiatrist, therapist, or case manager who is familiar with the persons his-
tory. Be prepared to give specific and concise reasons for your concern.
This professional can help assess the situation and provide advice for further
action. The professional may be able to arrange an appointment or may be
able to admit the person to the hospital. If you cannot reach someone and
the situation is worsening, do not continue to wait for a return call. Take
another action, such as:
2. Call the Emergency Services Department of the Community Mental Health
Center that serves the county in which the patient lives.
3. If you think the person with mental illness needs emergency medical or psy-
chiatric attention, drive him or her to the nearest emergency room, but only
if you can do so safely.
4. If you do not think that you can do this safely, call 911 Emergency Services.
Ask for the Crisis Intervention Team or CIT officer if your community has this
service, or your local hospital emergency services.
3 4
5. If you want advice, support and to have someone assess the situation, con-
tact the Emergency Services Department of your local Community Mental
Health Center. Be prepared to give specific and concise reasons for your
concern. Information on how to contact Community Mental Health Centers
is listed in the back of this booklet.
If the situation is life threatening or if serious property damage is taking place,
call the police for assistance. When you call the police, tell them your loved one is
experiencing a mental health crisis, and explain the nature of the emergency. If you
have a Crisis Intervention Team in your area, ask for a CIT officer. Telling the police
that it is a crisis involving a person with mental illness increases the chance that an
officer trained in working with persons with mental illnesses will be dispatched. You
can also call the police if you need help transporting the person to the hospital dur-
ing a crisis.
It is important to note that depending upon the police officer involved and
other contingencies, s/he may take your loved one to jail instead of to the emergen-
cy room. Be clear about what you want to have happen, but the officer will make the
final decision.
When giving out information about a person in a mental health crisis, always be
very specific about the behaviors you are observing. Instead of saying, My son is
behaving strangely, you might say, My son hasnt slept in three days, he hasnt
eaten anything substantive in over 5 days, and he believes that the FBI is transmit-
ting messages through his fillings. Report any active psychotic behavior and/or
changes in behaviors (such as not leaving the house, not taking showers), threats to
other people, increase in manic behaviors, or increase in agitation (pacing, irritabili-
ty). You need to describe what is going on right now, not what happened a year
ago. Finally, in a crisis situation, when in doubt, go somewhere safe. Do not put
yourself in harms way.
"Need support? Call your local NAMI and arrange to visit them. Membership is
made up of families and friends of persons with serious mental illness, as well as
those who have mental illness themselves. They will become your best friends
and be the best source of information to help you and your mentally ill relative
navigate the system of care and available resources. JN
HOSPITALS and EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS
Every hospital and emergency department has its own set of guidelines for
responding to a mental health crisis. Some hospitals have markedly improved their
preparedness and ability to handle mental health or behavioral crises. While one
may not be located near you, knowing what the best hospitals do in these situations
will help you know what to ask for. You may want to talk ahead of time to the psychi-
atrist, other mental health professionals or other families about which hospitals in
your area have the best reputation for dealing effectively with a mental health crisis.
At the emergency room, immediately inform the hospital staff that your loved
one is in a mental health crisis. Alerting the hospital staff to the nature of the crisis
can speed up the response of trained mental health professionals. The staff will then
know to use mental health evaluation forms and to follow the correct assessment
and admission protocols. Clearly state how the person is in danger and describe the
behaviors.
 Find out if a separate emergency room is available for individuals experiencing a
mental health crisis. A room separate from the standard, often chaotic, emergency
room provides a less stressful setting where the person in crisis can wait. Some hos-
pitals have these and people report that it makes a difference.
Doctors and other examiners at the hospital should make an honest effort to
obtain information from the person who brings a potential patient to any treatment
facility. Be prepared to provide the following information about the person in crisis
to the medical examiner:
Psychiatric history Prepare an abbreviated history NOW and have it available
for crisis situations when they occur. If you are just beginning this process, keep
a continuing diary of the persons psychiatric history. You can find a download-
able form on the NAMI Indiana web site that can help you do this.
Past behaviors and treatment including a current list of medications and dosages.
List your knowledge and direct observations of the recent behavior that caused
concern. It can be helpful to write down your observations leading up to and
during the crisis be brief and concrete. You must provide detailed information
on how s/he is incapable of self-care, any suicide threats, threats to property or
others, new behaviors, etc.
List contact information of current mental health providers and insurance infor-
mation about the person.
If you wish to give information about your loved one, contact the Emergency
Room. Do not wait for them to call you.
Again, it is a good idea to compile this information before an emergency
occurs. (And make extra copies; youll probably need several.) Write it down and
keep it easily accessible so that you are not pressed to remember the information
during a crisis.
Departing the hospital after visiting our son, a gentleman I shared the elevator
with stated in despair, I cannot believe that my wife is in a locked down ward.
Many of us have also experienced this despair, but what we must remember is
that in this period of despair, this hospital is a place of hope that being there
can lead to the appropriate treatment and recovery. MK
Be prepared for a long wait in the emergency room. NAMI has heard that individu-
als with mental illness and their families have waited eight or more hours before being
helped. It is important to note that bringing someone to an emergency room does not
necessarily lead to an admission into the psychiatric unit.
Dont be surprised if the emergency room physician asks you to assess how
dangerous the individual is to him or herself or others, and asks if you would be able
to take the person home. Be prepared to hold your ground if you really believe the
individual needs to be hospitalized. Dont take someone home if you believe you
cannot reasonably keep him or her or others safe.
Because of HIPAA restrictions, as a rule, doctors and other hospital personnel do
not share information about an adult patient with the family unless s/he gives permis-
sion to do so. However, you can still provide information to them that may help them
assess the situation and provide better treatment. You might also try asking broad
questions such as If I had a relative with schizophrenia, what medications would be
recommended if X medication wasnt working? If you have Power of Attorney, how-
ever, HIPAA restrictions do not apply.
5 6
LEGAL BASIS FOR DETENTIONS and INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENTS
A person cannot be detained or committed for treatment against his or her will
unless the individual meets certain legal standards. A detention or involuntary com-
mitment is only authorized if:
The person (1) suffers from a mental illness; and, (2) due to the mental illness is
dangerous and/or gravely disabled.
Mental illness is defined by statute as a psychiatric disorder* that:
1. substantially disturbs an individuals thinking, feeling, or behavior; and,
2. impairs the individuals ability to function.
* The term includes mental retardation, alcoholism and addiction to
narcotics or other dangerous drugs.
Dangerous is defined as a condition in which an individual, as a result of
mental illness, presents a substantial risk that the individual will harm
him- or herself or others.
Gravely disabled is defined as a condition in which an individual, as a
result of mental illness, is in danger of coming to harm because the individual:
1. Is unable to provide for his/her food, clothing, shelter or other essential
human needs; or,
2. Has a substantial impairment or obvious deterioration of his or her judgment,
reasoning or behavior that results in the individuals inability to function inde-
pendently.
Dealing with a psychiatric crisis is a daunting task that can be very, very dis-
couraging. In dealing with the challenges of such a crisis, it is important to
remember this: severe mental illness is treatable, more treatable than cardio-
vascular disease. The key here is to have access to treatment. Your effort in
achieving this access for your loved one has the potential of providing rich
dividends! JV
Detentions
Indiana statute provides for three types of detentions. (1) Immediate detention
(commonly referred to as the 24-hour detention). (2) Emergency detention (common-
ly referred to as the 72-hour detention). The primary purpose of the these two types
of detentions is to permit law enforcement officials or emergency medical personnel
to take into custody an individual who is experiencing a mental health crisis, for trans-
portation to a local health care or psychiatric facility for assessment and emergency
treatment. (3) A physician/judicial hold.
The statute grants immunity from liability for individuals who participate in
obtaining detention or commitment of a mentally ill person, so long as the individual
does not act with malice, bad faith or negligence.
"If your son or daughter is in trouble with the law, and you feel that the
court should know about his/her mental illness as it pertains to the case, it is
appropriate and beneficial to write a letter about his/her mental illness and how
it affected his/her judgment in the case before the court, and present it to the
attorney who is presenting the defense in the case. The defense attorney can
then decide how best to use this in presenting the case. It could be risky and
counterproductive to use this information without the involvement of the defense
attorney, who should be in the best position to judge how best to use it." MH
Immediate Detention (24 hour detention)
The immediate detention (24 hour detention) can be utilized by a law enforce-
ment officer who has reasonable grounds to believe that the person in crisis is men-
tally ill, dangerous or gravely disabled, and in immediate need of hospitalization and
treatment. The officer is authorized to take the person into custody for the purpose
of transporting the person to a local health care or psychiatric facility. It is possible
that the officer may charge the individual with a criminal offense.
In those cities or counties that have a CIT Program, the CIT officers use the 24
hour detention. The CIT officers are trained to conduct a field assessment to deter-
mine if an immediate detention is necessary. Typically, the CIT officer will assess
whether the situation can be handled without a detention. However, if the decision
is made to exercise an immediate detention, the person is transported to an appro-
priate medical or psychiatric facility for the purpose of a psychiatric assessment.
The psychiatric assessment must take place within 24 hours from the time the
individual is admitted into the facility. Depending on the assessment, the assessor
may release the person or decide to seek an emergency detention (72 hour) or a
commitment.
Emergency Detention (72 hour detention)
An emergency detention can be initiated by a law enforcement officer, emer-
gency medical personnel, family, friends or anybody who believes that the individual
is (1) mentally ill and (2) either dangerous or gravely disabled and (3) in need of
immediate restraint. In order to obtain an emergency detention, a petition must be
signed by the party seeking the emergency detention. It is absolutely critical that the
petition must include a medical statement from a physician that is based on either a
personal examination of the individual or on information provided to the physician
by a third party that indicates that the individual may be mentally ill and is danger-
ous and/or gravely disabled.
If you are in a situation where you believe something dangerous is about to
happen to you, to others or to the person with mental illness, call the police
department or the local crisis intervention unit immediately. For your sake,
and for the sake of your loved one and/or others as well, it is imperative that
you not put yourself in harms way.
Sometimes a person with mental illness creates such a risk of injury that s/he
must be held in custody before a petition for commitment can be filed. In
these cases, an emergency hold can be placed to temporarily confine the
person in a secure facility. Emergency holds last for up to 72 hours (not
including weekends and holidays). An emergency hold does not necessarily
result in starting the commitment process. It only serves as a way to assess
the individual to determine if commitment is necessary.
Once the petition has been prepared, the petition is submitted to a court. This
may be done in writing or orally. The court must approve the petition, and the
approval may be in writing or orally. Once the court approves the petition, a law
enforcement officer is authorized to take the individual into custody and to transport
the individual to a health care or psychiatric facility. The length of the detention is
not to exceed 72 hours, commencing from the time the court issues the order
approving the detention; however, by statute, the 72 hours excludes Saturdays,
Sundays and legal holidays.
7 8
During the detention, the individual is examined and assessed. If the physician
determines that there is no probable cause to believe that the individual is mentally ill
and either dangerous or gravely disabled and in need of continuing care and treat-
ment, the individual is discharged from the facility. If the examining physician believes
that probable cause does exist for continuing involuntary detention, a report is filed
with the court requesting an involuntary commitment prior to the expiration of the
72-hour period. Within 24 hours of receiving the report, a hearing on the petition for
involuntary commitment must be scheduled to take place no later than two days from
the date of the receipt of the report.
The statute provides for the hearing to take place in two stages if the court
chooses to conduct the hearings in such a manner. If conducted in two stages, the
first stage is the scheduling of a preliminary hearing to determine if there is probable
cause to proceed with the involuntary commitment. If the court conducts a prelimi-
nary hearing and determines that there is probable cause to proceed with a hearing
on the Petition for Involuntary Commitment, a final hearing must be scheduled with-
in 10 days of the date of the preliminary hearing.
Some courts conduct just one hearing and eliminate the need for both a prelim-
inary and final hearing.
Physician/Judicial Hold
A physician/judicial hold occurs when a person, having voluntarily agreed to
receive treatment in an inpatient setting, now desires to terminate the treatment and
leave the facility. The person must give written notice of his or her desire to be
released. The physician has 24 hours to make a decision as to whether to release the
patient. If the physician has reason to believe that the patient is mentally ill and is
dangerous and/or gravely disabled and in need of continuing care and treatment,
the physician has five days to file a written report to the court in the county in which
the patient is hospitalized, or is a resident, and request a commitment hearing. The
court will issue an order of judicial hold. The judicial hold requires that the patient
remain in the facility until the hearing, which must occur within two days of the court
receiving the physicians report. The hearing may be either a preliminary hearing or a
final hearing. If a preliminary hearing is conducted, the final hearing must occur with-
in 10 days of the preliminary hearing.
Commitments
There are two types of involuntary civil commitments: A temporary commitment
is a commitment that is a period of time not to exceed 90 days. A regular commit-
ment is a commitment for an indefinite period of time, subject to mandatory annual
review. An involuntary commitment authorizes the care provider to provide treatment
in a setting that the caretaker determines to be the least restrictive given the existing
psychiatric condition of the mentally ill person. The care may be inpatient care in a
local facility or at one of the state operated mental health facilities. The care may
consist of outpatient treatment with the person living in a sub-acute facility, a group
home, or the persons private residence.
For a temporary commitment, a petition is filed with a court in the
county in which the patient resides or where the patient is located.
 An involuntary civil commitment proceeding is typically initiated by the filing of
a petition. The petitioner is the person seeking the commitment and the respon-
dent is the person that the petitioner is seeking to have committed. The petitioner
must be at least 18 years of age. The petitioner is often a member of the staff of a
treatment facility where the respondent is being treated, but the petitioner can also
be a family member, friend or someone in the community. However, we recommend
that the best role for a family member in this process might be to supply information
to the petitioner. The petitioner does not always have to complete and file the peti-
tion on his own. The person who prepares the actual petition may vary from county
to county. Treatment facilities may prepare their own petitions.
The petition must include a physicians written statement wherein the physician
states that the physician has examined the respondent within the past 30 days and
that the physician believes that the respondent is mentally ill and either dangerous
or gravely disabled and in need of custody care, or treatment in an appropriate
facility.
The most important thing a family member can do to help with this is
to provide a documented mental health history of the person in crisis.
This, plus an understanding of Indiana law, will be the keys for you to
find and receive the services needed for your loved one. A form to
help you do this can be downloaded from the NAMI Indiana web site
(www.namiindiana.org)
Having this information written down will make it easier for you to
remember events later on, especially if you testify in court during com-
mitment proceedings. Without notes, it might be hard for you to
remember details about who was there, what everyone said and what
happened. You need to be able to state why a commitment is neces-
sary. Tell the team about alternatives that have been tried and why the
person needs treatment.
Upon receipt of the petition, the Court has three days to enter an order setting
a hearing date on the petition. The hearing must occur within 14 days from the
date of the order setting a hearing date, unless the petition is being filed at the
conclusion of an emergency detention, in which case the hearing must occur within
two days after receiving the physician's report. (See the section on emergency
detentions, page 7.) Notice of the hearing must be given to the petitioner and the
respondent (i.e., the patient). If the respondent is being treated in a facility, notice
must be given to the facility.
At the hearing, testimony is offered by the petitioner and by a physician. Other
witnesses might be needed to provide the evidence necessary for the court to
determine whether the respondent meets the statutory criteria of suffering from a
mental illness and being dangerous and/or gravely disabled. Generally, you can
only testify about things that you have seen or heard directly, not what you learned
through talking to other people. Be sure to dress appropriately for court, respond
directly to the questions asked and follow the directions of the judge.
There must be clear and convincing evidence that the respondent meets the
statutory criteria. If the court determines that indeed there is clear and convincing
evidence that the respondent meets the statutory criteria, the court enters an order
of involuntary commitment. The court will commit the respondent to the care of an
9 10
appropriate treatment facility. If the court determines that there is no clear and con-
vincing evidence that the respondent meets the statutory criteria, the person is
ordered released from any facility in which the individual may be a patient, and the
petition is dismissed.
Family members of the person with mental illness sometimes find it difficult to
accept a courts decision that the evidence offered does not clearly convince the
court that the individual is mentally ill and dangerous and/or gravely disabled.
Oftentimes it is not difficult to prove that the individual suffers from a mental illness;
however, it is more difficult to prove that the individual is dangerous and/or gravely
disabled. In the event that the court determines that the statutory criteria were not
met, family members should not be discouraged from pursuing petitions for commit-
ment in the future if there is a change in the factual circumstances of the person with
mental illness.
A temporary commitment may be extended for one additional period not to
exceed an additional 90 days. A petition for extension of a temporary commitment
must be filed and the hearing conducted prior to the expiration of the original tem-
porary commitment. If any additional petition is filed after two temporary commit-
ments, the additional petition must be for a regular commitment.
If a court orders a regular commitment, the court must schedule a date for the
filing of a report to court (known as a periodic report) which has to be filed at least
annually, since such a commitment is indefinite in length. The care provider must file
the periodic report if it believes that the statutory criteria still exist for the commit-
ment. If the court issues an order continuing the commitment, the respondent has
the right to request a review hearing at which the care provider must present evi-
dence that the statutory criteria still exist for the commitment.
An involuntary commitment may be terminated at any time by the treatment
provider if the care provider believes that the statutory criteria needed for the com-
mitment no longer exist.
Some Common Questions Concerning Commitment Proceedings
Who can attend court proceedings?
In Indiana, hearings on involuntary civil commitments are confidential and not
open to the public. Typically the individuals who would be able to attend the
hearing are the petitioner, any witnesses necessary to prove the petition, the
physician and court personnel. Members of the family who are not the peti-
tioner or appearing as witnesses may attend only if the respondent consents
to the presence of the family members in the courtroom.
You can contact the clerk of the court or the petitioner to determine when
and where the hearing will be conducted.
Can you communicate with the respondent prior to or after the hearing?
If the hearing occurs in the court and the respondent is an inpatient, the
respondent will typically be brought to the courtroom by hospital security
staff. The hospital security staff is in charge of supervising and monitoring
the patient. It is up to the officer in charge and the court as to whether they
will permit family members to sit with and/or communicate with the respon-
dent before or after the hearing. It is important for family members to be
supportive of the respondent through this process and while attending hear-
ings. In most instances, communicating with the individual is a gesture that
most respondents probably appreciate. It is valuable for preserving the rela-
 tionship. If the person with the mental illness is being held in a facility during
the commitment process, family members may contact the treatment facility
to arrange a visit.
Be slow and methodical in what you say. Be accurate and honest. It helps to
bring in what you want to say in writing. MG
The system seems designed to not work very well. Dont let frustration stop
you. Be persistent. Be assertive and even aggressive if necessary. Always be
respectful and speak with authority. Dont assume anything and always get
everything in writing. EE
"When I was newly into caring for my mentally ill son, I was not prepared for the
court hearing. I did not present my concerns forcefully enough - about him not
eating and no food in his house. When it was the psychiatrist's turn to speak, he
said, No comment so the judge had to let my son go. Be prepared when you
go to court. Write down everything that causes you concern, and fight for the
mental health treatment that will help your loved one, even if it involves commit-
ment. My son was so sick that he admitted himself to the same facility three
days later. PP
What are the rights of the respondent?
A respondent must be given advance notice of a commitment hearing and
be present at the hearing and testify unless the respondent is disruptive or it
is determined that it would be injurious to the respondents mental health to
participate in the hearing. The respondent is entitled to receive a copy of the
petition. A respondent is entitled to representation by an attorney. The
attorney may be a private attorney; however, most courts provide or appoint
a public defender to represent a respondent in commitment proceedings.
Who pays for commitment?
Just because you act as the petitioner does not mean you have to pay for the
persons treatment. Treatment costs may be paid by private insurance, gov-
ernment programs, the individual with mental illness, or in rare instances, the
county.
Although you should talk to the hospital staff or the county case manager
about your specific situation to determine the cost and payment of care, here
are a few general guidelines to keep in mind:
Generally, who pays depends on where the care is given and what pro-
grams people are eligible for. If the patient is covered by a private insur-
er, the insurer is billed. If the person is between the ages of 18 and 65
and has no insurance, the person is ultimately responsible for the cost of
treatment. In these cases, the facility will usually bill the person and his or
her spouse or guardian on the basis of his or her ability to pay. If the per-
son is unable or unwilling to pay for the treatment, the state can apply to
be payee of the persons Social Security or VA benefits, file liens against
real estate owned by the patient or his or her spouse, file claims in his or
her guardianship, or file claims on his or her estate after death.
The public defender must represent the wishes of the person who is
being committed. This may seem very frustrating since your loved ones
wishes may not coincide with his or her best interests. DH
11
Social Security: IMPORTANT!
Very often, a person with severe and persistent mental illness is unable to work
and must depend on financial assistance from Social Security. Gaining access to this
support can take time, and so it is crucial that you contact Social Security immediate-
ly after you get a diagnosis for your loved one. Call 1-800-772-1213 (or use the web
site: www.socialsecurity.gov). Do this to establish your intent to file an application,
even if you dont actually file an application during this call. This will establish your
protective filing date.
Social Security pays disability benefits through two programs the Social
Security Disability program (SSDI) and the Supplemental Security Income program
(SSI).
After it has been determined that your loved one who has a mental illness can
no longer work, you can call Social Security to schedule an appointment to file the
actual application or go online and file the claim.
Juveniles
Indiana provides that a juvenile court may commit a child to a child care institu-
tion. A child care institution is defined as an institution operating under a license
issued by the state of Indiana that provides for the delivery of mental services appro-
priate to a juvenile and complies with various rules adopted by the Division of Family
and Children Services. If the commitment or placement of the child to a facility
other than a child care institution is necessary, commitment proceedings may still
take place but would be done by the court that would normally have jurisdiction of
civil commitments. Oftentimes a commitment is not necessary because the parent
or guardian is in the position to give consent for the placement of the child into a
hospital or mental health treatment center.
What You Can Do to Facilitate This Process
Contact NAMI Indiana, your local Community Mental Health Center, or Mental
Health America (formerly known as the Mental Health Association) to assist family
members or friends in the process.
The petition for commitment needs to be supported by the report of a licensed
physician or psychiatrist who has examined the person with mental illness within 30
days of the filing of the petition. The examiner must provide a written statement by
the physician or psychiatrist describing the persons diagnosis and behavior and stat-
ing that the person needs to be committed. This is called the physicians state-
ment and becomes part of the petition.
Keeping a Mental Health History
Here are some examples of questions you should be able to answer about the
person with mental illness; constructing a Mental Health History will make it possible
for you to do this. Refer to the NAMI Indiana web site (www.namiindiana.org) for a
downloadable form that can help with this. It is worth pointing out that being pre-
pared with this information can also be invaluable in applying for Social Security
Disability benefits.
Background information:
Name, age, current location/address, social security number, and names of
family members.
Behavior:
Has s/he made verbal or physical threats? Is s/he verbally or physically abusive?
Has s/he mentioned suicidal thoughts or plans? Has s/he attempted suicide?
Has s/he acted irrationally?
12
 Diagnosis/Symptoms: Employment history:
What is his or her diagnosis? Why do you believe s/he has a mental illness? Currently employed? When did s/he last work? How has his or her illness
What signs and symptoms do you see? affected his or her ability to work?
Medical care providers: Financial information:
Does s/he have a therapist, psychiatrist or other doctors? Who are they Does s/he pay rent and other bills? Does s/he have insurance?
and how can they be reached?
It is OK if you cant answer all of these questions. It would be difficult to pro-
Mental health treatment history: vide information on all of these categories.
Has s/he been hospitalized or received outpatient care? If so, when (year
and month) and where? In some counties, if the family member is living in the community or in your home,
and you are the petitioner, you should not be surprised if you are asked to arrange for
Medications: an examiner to assess the individual and prepare a statement for the court. You can
What medications have been prescribed? Does s/he take the medication talk to the persons family doctor or psychiatrist.
as prescribed? Did they help? Did they have severe side effects? What
medications was s/he on in the past? ALTERNATIVES to INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT
There are basically two alternatives to involuntary commitment to a psychiatric
Never give up hope. Know your rights. Keep records of your loved ones treatment facility to manage a psychiatric crisis: (1) Voluntary admission; and (2)
behavior. Work with the system and make the system work for you. EE Managing the psychiatric problem on an outpatient basis. Both alternatives require
We need to advocate and support pharmaceutical companies that risk a lot to cooperation from the person in crisis, which may be problematic.
seek new and more effective medications to help our loved ones have a better The chances for cooperation can be increased by having a Psychiatric Advance
chance at effective recovery from these biological brain-based disorders that we Directive (PAD). This is a document that is prepared in advance by a person with
call mental illnesses. JL serious mental illness (SMI) during a period of being of sound mind, in which instruc-
tions for preferred modes of treatment in cases of psychiatric emergencies are speci-
fied, and Power of Attorney is granted to a trusted individual, authorizing him or her
Overall health: to make medical decisions on behalf of the person with SMI when he/she is not of
Does s/he have health problems in addition to his or her mental illness? sound mind. Although these Psychiatric Advance Directives can be rescinded, they
What are they? do increase the chances for cooperation by the person who is in crisis.
Alcohol and other drug use: Another approach, particularly if there is enough time available, is to benefit
Does s/he use alcohol or other drugs? Has s/he admitted to alcohol or from the second half of the book by Xavier Amador, I Am Not Sick; I Dont Need
other drug use? Which drugs does s/he use? How much and where does Help. There, Amador outlines a specific series of steps that can be used to per-
s/he get them? How does s/he pay for them? Have you seen the person suade a person who has mental illness to cooperate with devising and carrying
high or intoxicated? through with a treatment plan.
Weapons:
Does s/he have access to a gun or other weapon?
Police record, court involvement, accidents:
Has s/he ever been arrested, spent time in jail or prison? List dates and
charges.
Self care:
Does s/he shower, change clothes, and wash clothes? Does s/he do dishes
and keep the house/apartment clean?
Diet:
Is the person eating? Has s/he lost or gained weight? If so, how much and
over how much time?
Sleep:
Is the person able to sleep? If not, how many days have there been without
sleep?
Housing:
Where is s/he living? How long has s/he lived there? Is it a stable living
environment?
13 14
 GLOSSARY
Listed below are definitions of acronyms and terms that might need some
clarification:
24/7 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; usually used in reference to the time of avail-
ability of services of some kind.
24 Hour Hold See ID, Immediate Detention (page 16).
72 Hour Hold See ED, Emergency Detention (below).
ACT Assertive Community Treatment is a team approach that provides care for
persons with mental illness on a 24/7 basis, with the care brought to the per-
sons residence, rather than requiring the person to come to a mental health
facility. Usually restricted to treating the most severely ill, who are least likely to
be able to keep appointments.
Anosognosia The condition in which a person with severe mental illness (SMI), as
a part of that illness, is unaware of his or her condition. It is exhibited in approx-
imately half of all persons with SMI. This condition makes it especially problem-
atic to get help for such persons. The book by Xavier Amador, Im Not Sick; I
Dont Need Help, is especially helpful in dealing effectively with this condition.
CIT Crisis Intervention Team, a selected subset of emergency responders (usually
police) who volunteer to have targeted training in dealing effectively with per-
sons who are in a mental health crisis. This training involves learning about
mental illness, and techniques of de-escalating crisis situations. A crucial part of
a successful CIT program is to gain cooperation with the local mental health
facility that includes its agreeing to deal promptly with persons in psychiatric cri-
sis who are brought in to them, allowing the CIT officer to return to duty with a
minimum of delay. In calling 911 in a psychiatric emergency, one should always
ask that a CIT officer be sent to deal with it. If it turns out that your community
does not have a CIT program, work diligently with your local NAMI affiliate to
see to it that one is established as soon as possible.
CMHC Community Mental Health Center
ED Emergency Detention, or 72-hour hold, can be put in effect when a petition-
er (who can be family, friend, or emergency responder, but most often is a psy-
chiatric worker at the institution to which the person in crisis has been brought
via a 24-hour hold) judges that the person in crisis cannot be dealt with ade-
quately in 24 hours. To put this in effect requires a petition that must be accom-
panied by a Physician's Statement and approved by a judge.
EDO Emergency Detention Order, which is what a judge issues to authorize an
Emergency Detention (72-hour hold).
ER Emergency Room, a section of a hospital that is set up to deal with crisis situ-
ations. No one can be denied treatment by emergency room personnel, regard-
less of whether or not the patient is able to pay for the services rendered. It is
also the most expensive form of medical care, but often the only option that is
immediately available.
Hearing on Order to Treat A hearing by a judge of arguments by (usually) a
mental health facility to administer psychotropic medications to a person with
mental illness who does not wish to take them. This is distinct from a commit-
ment hearing, but can occur in the same session in which a commitment hearing
is being conducted.
15
HIPAA The acronym for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
of 1996 which, in addition to specifying conditions with regard to insurance por-
tability, puts restrictions on what can be revealed by a health provider to per-
sons other than the person being treated by the provider. These restrictions can
be a significant problem in managing the treatment of a person with mental ill-
ness (or any other illness), and a great source of frustration to family members
and friends trying to improve that treatment. One very important fact to keep
in mind: HIPAA does not restrict what a family member or friend can tell a
health provider, and so HIPAA restrictions do not apply in instances in which this
information is being offered.
ID Immediate Detention, or 24-Hour Hold, can be initited by a law enforcement
officer who believes that the person in crisis is a danger to self or others, or is
gravely disabled. This process does not require the involvement of a judge.
IDO Immediate Detention Order, which is what an emergency responder issues
to authorize a 24-hour hold. A judge is not needed in this process.
In-Service Training On-the-job training designed to provide knowledge and skills
useful to improve performance of that job, or to extend the range of activities
associated with that job. CIT training is an excellent example of this, as well as
NAMIs Provider Education Program for mental health providers.
MHC Mental Health Center
MHP Mental Health Provider
MICA Mentally Ill/Chemically Addicted (dual diagnosis). Approximately half of
the population of persons with severe mental illness also have a problem with
substance abuse. In treatment, it is crucial to treat both problems in parallel.
PAD See Psychiatric Advance Directive (below).
PCP Personal Care or Primary Care Physician (family doctor)
Petitioner The person who files a petition with the court is called the petitioner.
Any interested person may file a petition for commitment. The petition tells the
court the reasons the person with mental illness should be committed. The
family should do everything possible to make sure that the petitioner is a pro-
fessional such as a doctor, because the person with mental illness is often angry
at whoever initiates the process. Petitions are often filed by hospitals or treat-
ment facilities but family members and people in the community may file them,
too.
Psychiatric Advance Directive (PAD) This is a document that is prepared in
advance by a person with SMI during a period of being of sound mind, in which
instructions for preferred modes of treatment in cases of psychiatric emergen-
cies are specified, and Power of Attorney is granted to a trusted individual,
authorizing him or her to make medical decisions on behalf of the person with
SMI when he/she is not of sound mind. Although these Psychiatric Advance
Directives can be rescinded, they do increase the chances for cooperation by
the person who is in crisis.
Respondent The person who is facing involuntary civil commitment is called the
respondent.
SED Serious/Severe Emotional Disturbance (term used for children & juveniles)
SMI Serious/Severe Mental Illness (term used for adults)
16
 Community Mental Health Centers Serving Indiana Dubois Hendricks
By County (Updated February 2017) Southern Hills General: 800-883-4020 Cummins General: 888-714-1927, ext 1500
Counseling, Inc. http://www.southernhills.org: Behavioral Crisis: 888-714-1927, ext 1501

Below you will find a list of the Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) that Health http://www.cumminsbhs.com
Elkhart
serve each county in Indiana along with their general office phone number and Hamilton General: 800-742-0787
crisis line (if different from general number). Crisis lines should be available any Oaklawn General: 800-282-0809
Psychiatric: http://www.oaklawn.org Center, Inc. Crisis: 800-742-0787
time day or night for those in a crisis, however, if you are in a crisis that is life- Center Inc. http://www.hamiltoncenter.org
threatening, please call 911 and ask for a CIT officer. Henry
Fayette Centerstone General: 812-376-4888
CMHC addresses are not listed because many CMHCs have multiple office loca- Centerstone General: 812-376-4888 of Indiana Crisis: 800-832-5442
tions. When you call the number for your CMHC, you will be provided with the of Indiana Crisis: 800-832-5442 http://www.centerstone.org
office information specific to you. You can also look up CMHCs that serve your http://www.centerstone.org Meridian Health General: 765-288-1928
county on the Indiana Council of Community Mental Health Centers website at: Floyd Services Corp. Crisis: 800-333-2647
https://www.iccmhc.org/providers Lifespring General: 800-456-2117 http://www.meridianhs.org/home
Health Systems www.lifespringhealthsystems.org/ Howard
Adams Clark Community General: 800-662-3445
Park Center General: 866-481-2700 Lifespring, General: 800-456-2117 Fountain Howard Regional Crisis: 800-662-3445
Crisis: 260-471-9440 Health Systems www.lifespringhealthsystems.org/ Wabash Valley General: 765-446-6400, ext 2 Health www.ecommunity.com/behavioralhealth
http://www.parkcenter.org/ : Alliance, Inc. Crisis: 800-859-5553
Allen Clay http://www.wvhmhc.org Huntington
Bowen Center General: 800-342-5653: Hamilton General: 800-742-0787 Franklin Bowen Center General: 800-342-5653
http://www.bowencenter.org/ Center, Inc. Crisis: 800-742-0787 Community General: 812-537-1302 http://www.bowencenter.org/
http://www.hamiltoncenter.org Mental Health Crisis: : 877-849-1248 Jackson
Park Center General: 866-481-2700 Clinton
Crisis: 260-471-9440 Center, Inc. http://www.cmhcinc.org Centerstone General: 812-376-4888
http://www.parkcenter.org/ Community General: 800-662-3445 of Indiana Crisis: 800-832-5442
Howard Crisis: 800-662-3445 Fulton http://www.centerstone.org
Bartholomew
Regional Health www.ecommunity.com/behavioralhealth Four County General: 800-552-3106
Centerstone General: 812-376-4888 Comprehensive http://www.fourcounty.org: Jasper
of Indiana Crisis: 800-832-5442 Wabash Valley General: 765-446-6400, ext 2
Alliance, Inc. Crisis: 800-859-5553 Mental Health Center Wabash Valley General: 765-446-6400, ext 2
http://www.centerstone.org
Benton http://www.wvhmhc.org Gibson Alliance, Inc. Crisis: 800-859-5553
Crawford http://www.wvhmhc.org
Wabash Valley General: 765-446-6400, ext 2 Southern Hills General: 800-883-4020 Southwestern General: 812-423-7791 Jay
Alliance, Inc. Crisis: 800-859-5553 Counseling, Inc. http://www.southernhills.org Indiana Mental Crisis: 812-423-7791
http://www.wvhmhc.org : Health Center http://www.southwestern.org Meridian Health General: 765-288-1928
Blackfor Daviess Services Corp. Crisis: 800-333-2647
Grant Blackford General: 800-755-3469: Grant http://www.meridianhs.org/home
Samaritan General: 800-824-7907 Jefferson
Mental Health, Inc. http://cornerstone.org/ Center http://www.gshvin.org Grant Blackford General: 800-755-3469
: Mental Health, http://cornerstone.org/ Centerstone General: 812-376-4888
Boone Dearborn Inc. of Indiana Crisis: 800-832-5442
Aspire. General: 877-574-1254 http://www.centerstone.org
Community General: 812-537-1302 Greene
Indiana, Inc. Crisis: 800-560-4038 Mental Health Crisis: : 877-849-1248 Lifespring, General: 800-456-2117
http://www.aspireindiana.org/ Center, Inc. http://www.cmhcinc.org Hamilton General: 800-742-0787 Health Systems www.lifespringhealthsystems.org/
Center, Inc. Crisis: 800-742-0787
Cummins General: 888-714-1927, ext 1500 Decatur http://www.hamiltoncenter.org Jennings
Behavioral Health Crisis: 888-714-1927, ext 1501 Hamilton Centerstone General: 812-376-4888
http://www.cumminsbhs.com Centerstone General: 812-376-4888
of Indiana Crisis: 800-832-5442 Aspire General: 877-574-1254 of Indiana Crisis: 800-832-5442
Brown http://www.centerstone.org
http://www.centerstone.org Indiana, Inc. Crisis: 800-560-4038
Centerstone General: 812-376-4888
DeKalb http://www.aspireindiana.org/ Johnson
of Indiana Crisis: 800-832-5442 Hancock Adult & Child General: 877.882.5122
http://www.centerstone.org Northeastern General: 260-347-2453 Center http://adultandchild.org/
Carroll Center, Inc. Crisis: 800-790-0118 Community General: 800-662-3445
http://www.necmh.org/ Hospitals Crisis: 800-662-3445 Community General: 800-662-3445
Wabash Valley General: 765-446-6400, ext 2 of Indiana www.ecommunity.com/behavioralhealth Hospitals Crisis: 800-662-3445
Alliance, Inc. Crisis: 800-859-5553 Bowen Center General: 800-342-5653 of Indiana www.ecommunity.com/behavioralhealth
http://www.wvhmhc.org Crisis: Text HELPNOW to 20121
Harrison Text HELPNOW to 20121
Cass http://www.bowencenter.org/ Knox
Four County General: 800-552-3106 Delaware Lifespring, General: 800-456-2117
Health Systems www.lifespringhealthsystems.org/ Samaritan Center General: 800-824-7907
Comprehensive http://www.fourcounty.org Meridian Health General: 765-288-1928 http://www.gshvin.org
Mental Health Center Services Corp. Crisis: 800-333-2647
http://www.meridianhs.org/home
17 18
Kosciusko
Bowen Center General: 800-342-5653
http://www.bowencenter.org/ of Indiana www.ecommunity.com/behavioralhealth
La Grange
Bowen Center General: 800-342-5653
http://www.bowencenter.org/ Bowen Center General: 800-342-5653
Northeastern General: 260-347-2453
Center, Inc. Crisis: 800-790-0118
http://www.necmh.org/
Lake
Edgewater General: 219-885-4264
Systems Crisis: 219-240-8615
http://www.edgewatersystems.org Four County General: 800-552-3106
Regional Mental General: 219-769-4005
Health Center Crisis: 219-769-4005
http://www.regionalmentalhealth.org/ Center
LaPorte
Edgewater General: 219-885-4264
Systems Crisis: 219-240-8615
http://www.edgewatersystems.org http://www.centerstone.org
Swanson Center General: 800-982-7123
Crisis: 855-325-6934
http://www.swansoncenter.org
Lawrence
Centerstone General: 812-376-4888
of Indiana Crisis: 800-832-5442
http://www.centerstone.org
Madison
Aspire Indiana, General: 877-574-1254
Inc. Crisis: 800-560-4038
http://www.aspireindiana.org/
Community General: 800-662-3445
Hospitals of Crisis: 800-662-3445
Indiana www.ecommunity.com/behavioralhealth Newton
Text HELPNOW to 20121
Marion
Adult & Child General: 877.882.5122
Center http://adultandchild.org/
Aspire General: 877-574-1254
Indiana, Inc. Crisis: 800-560-4038
http://www.aspireindiana.org/
Cummins General: 888-714-1927, ext 1500
Behavioral Crisis: 888-714-1927, ext 1501
Health http://www.cumminsbhs.com
Hamilton Center, General: 800-742-0787
Inc. Crisis: 800-742-0787
http://www.hamiltoncenter.org
Meridian Health General: 765-288-1928
Services Corp. Crisis: 800-333-2647
http://www.meridianhs.org/home
Midtown CMHC General: 317-880-8491
Crisis: 317-880-8485
www.eskenazihealth.edu/mental-health http://www.centerstone.org
Community General: 800-662-3445
Hospitals Crisis: 800-662-3445
Text HELPNOW to 20121
Marshall
http://www.bowencenter.org/
Martin
Samaritan General: 800-824-7907
Center http://www.gshvin.org
Miami
Comprehensive http://www.fourcounty.org:
Mental Health
Monroe
Centerstone General: 812-376-4888
of Indiana Crisis: 800-832-5442
Montgomery
Cummins General: 888-714-1927, ext 1500
Behavioral Crisis: 888-714-1927, ext 1501
Health http://www.cumminsbhs.com
Wabash Valley General: 765-446-6400, ext 2
Alliance, Inc. Crisis: 800-859-5553
http://www.wvhmhc.org
Morgan
Centerstone General: 812-376-4888
of Indiana Crisis: 800-832-5442
http://www.centerstone.org
Hamilton Center, General: 800-742-0787
Inc. Crisis: 800-742-0787
http://www.hamiltoncenter.org
Wabash Valley General: 765-446-6400, ext 2
Alliance, Inc. Crisis: 800-859-5553
http://www.wvhmhc.org
Noble
Northeastern General: 260-347-2453
Center, Inc. Crisis: 800-790-0118
http://www.necmh.org/
Bowen Center General: 800-342-5653
http://www.bowencenter.org/
Ohio
Community General: 812-537-1302
Mental Health Crisis: : 877-849-1248
Center, Inc. http://www.cmhcinc.org
Orange
Southern Hills General: 800-883-4020
Counseling, Inc. http://www.southernhills.org
Owen
Centerstone General: 812-376-4888
of Indiana Crisis: 800-832-5442
Hamilton Center, Inc. General: 800-742-0787
Crisis: 800-742-0787
http://www.hamiltoncenter.org
Parke
Hamilton General: 800-742-0787
Center, Inc. Crisis: 800-742-0787
http://www.hamiltoncenter.org
Perry
Southern Hills General: 800-883-4020
Counseling, Inc. http://www.southernhills.org
Pike
Samaritan General: 800-824-7907
Center http://www.gshvin.org
Porter
Edgewater General: 219-885-4264
Systems Crisis: 219-240-8615
http://www.edgewatersystems.org
Porter-Starke General: 219-531-3500
Services Crisis: : 219-531-3500
http://www.porterstarke.org
Posey
Southwestern General: 812-423-7791
Indiana Mental Crisis: 812-423-7791
Health Center http://www.southwestern.org
Pulaski
Four County General: 800-552-3106
Comprehensive http://www.fourcounty.org
Mental Health
Center
Putnam
Centerstone General: 812-376-4888
of Indiana Crisis: 800-832-5442
http://www.centerstone.org
Hamilton Center, General: 800-742-0787
Inc. Crisis: 800-742-0787
http://www.hamiltoncenter.org
Randolph
Meridian Health General: 765-288-1928
Services Corp. Crisis: 800-333-2647
http://www.meridianhs.org/home
Ripley
Community General: 812-537-1302
Mental Health Crisis: : 877-849-1248
Center, Inc. http://www.cmhcinc.org
Rush
Meridian Health General: 765-288-1928
Services Corp. Crisis: 800-333-2647
http://www.meridianhs.org/home
St. Joseph
Oaklawn General: 800-282-0809
Psychiatric http://www.oaklawn.org
Center, Inc.
Scott
Lifespring, General: 800-456-2117
Health Systems www.lifespringhealthsystems.org/
Shelby
Community General: 800-662-3445
Hospitals Crisis: 800-662-3445
of Indiana www.ecommunity.com/behavioralhealth
Text HELPNOW to 20121
Spencer
Southern Hills General: 800-883-4020
Counseling, Inc. http://www.southernhills.org
Starke
sServices Crisis: : 219-531-3500
http://www.porterstarke.org
Steuben
Bowen Center General: 800-342-5653
http://www.bowencenter.org/
Northeastern General: 260-347-2453
Center, Inc. Crisis: 800-790-0118
http://www.necmh.org/
Sullivan
Hamilton General: 800-742-0787
Center, Inc. Crisis: 800-742-0787
http://www.hamiltoncenter.org
Switzerland
Community General: 812-537-1302
Mental Health Crisis: : 877-849-1248
Center, Inc. http://www.cmhcinc.org
Tippecanoe
Wabash Valley General: 765-446-6400, ext 2
Alliance, Inc. Crisis: 800-859-5553
http://www.wvhmhc.org
Tipton
Community General: 800-662-3445
Howard Crisis: 800-662-3445
Regional Health www.ecommunity.com/behavioralhealth
Union
Centerstone General: 812-376-4888
of Indiana Crisis: 800-832-5442
http://www.centerstone.org
Vanderburgh
Southwestern General: 812-423-7791
Indiana Mental Crisis: 812-423-7791
Health Center http://www.southwestern.org
Vermillion
Hamilton General: 800-742-0787
Center, Inc. Crisis: 800-742-0787
http://www.hamiltoncenter.org

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Vigo
Hamilton General: 800-742-0787
Center, Inc. Crisis: 800-742-0787
http://www.hamiltoncenter.org
Cummins General: 888-714-1927, ext 1500
Behavioral Crisis: 888-714-1927, ext 1501
Health http://www.cumminsbhs.com
Wabash
Bowen Center General: 800-342-5653
http://www.bowencenter.org/
Warren
Wabash Valley General: 765-446-6400, ext 2
Alliance, Inc. Crisis: 800-859-5553
http://www.wvhmhc.org
Warrick
Southwestern General: 812-423-7791
Indiana Mental Crisis: 812-423-7791
Health Center http://www.southwestern.org
Washington
Lifespring, General: 800-456-2117
Health Systems www.lifespringhealthsystems.org/
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This booklets creation has depended heavily on the crisis booklet created by
NAMIMinnesota. Permission for doing this has been graciously provided by Sue
Abderholden, NAMIMinnesotas Executive Director. We are deeply grateful to her
for allowing us to create and distribute this booklet.
We are also indebted to Peg Larson, Court Liaison, Park Center, Fort Wayne, who
painstakingly transcribed the Minnesota booklet into electronic format that could be
adapted for our use, and to Judge David Avery, Mental Health Court Judge, Allen
County, who generously gave of his time to provide the legal basis for detentions and
involuntary commitment in Indiana. A generous contribution from David Scheidler,
M.D. helped to defray the cost of printing this booklet. Kathleen Coffee provided valu-
able proofreading and editorial assistance.

RESOURCES Also, our gratitude extends to:

This booklet has been prepared for your use by: NAMI Maryland Janet Edelman
Pam McConey, NAMI Indiana, Retired Executive Director
National Alliance on Mental Illness Indiana (NAMI Indiana) Dottie Davis, Deputy Chief, Fort Wayne Police Department
Indianas Grass-Roots Voice on Mental Illness
P.O. Box 22697, Indianapolis, IN 46222-0697 Paul Wilson, CEO, Park Center, Fort Wayne
1-800-677-6442; Fax 1-317-925-9398 NAMI Indiana Crisis Booklet/Web Site Committee members: Abby Flynn
Web Page: www.namiindiana.org (Chair), Joanne Abbott, Marianne Halbert, Pam McConey, Jane Novak,
Phyllis Patton, Joshua Sprunger, Joe Vanable, Linda Williams
Information Useful for Veterans:
Benefits Information:
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office: 1-800-827-1000
Healthcare Information: Call one of these three campuses:
Fort Wayne VA Campus: 1-800-360-8387
Marion VA Campus: 1-800-498-8792
Roudebush VA Campus: 1-888-878-6889
Information Useful for Seniors:
Medicare: 1-800-772-1213 (Hearing or Speech Impaired: 1-800-325-0778)
The Geriatric Mental Health Foundation: 1-703-556-9222; www.gmhfonline.org/

Other useful sources of information can be found at the following web sites:
www.nimh.nih.gov/search.jsp?query=The+Numbers+Count&lang=&number=10&start=1
www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders
www.samhsa.gov
www.mayoclinic.com
www.psychlaw.org
www.allpsych.com/disorders
www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org/
www.nami.org
www.nmha.org

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