Helping people in financial crisis and emotional distress
Sherry Nelson, human development specialist Marion County and Northeast Region, University of Missouri Extension & Brenda Procter, M.S., state specialist & instructor, Personal Financial Planning, University of Missouri Extension
As the national economic crisis evolves, individuals, families and businesses may turn to you or your agency for advice. The impact of this crisis is being felt at all socioeconomic levels as the nation deals with home mortgage defaults and foreclosures, bank and investment firm failures, declining stock prices and home values, dwindling retirement funds, rising unemployment, tighter credit and increased costs for necessities such as food, gasoline and heat.
Financial difficulties often bring about unusually high levels of stress. Uncertainty about the future creates added anxiety, regardless of whether or not people are struggling currently. It is easy to lose perspective during such times. We are providing the following information to help individuals and agencies work with people in crisis in a safe and appropriate manner.
Take Care of Yourself
First and foremost, we recognize that you yourself may be experiencing
some of these very problems. Please be aware of your own mental
health and financial well-being and seek help when necessary.
Your Role
Individuals and agency roles vary. If you or your agency does not
provide mental health or crisis counseling, you will need to make
an appropriate referral if someone comes to you in extreme emotional
distress or plans to commit suicide. You or someone you work with
also could be experiencing a financial crisis and emotional distress.
If you are already familiar with mental health agencies in your
community, it would be a good time to be sure you and any staff
at all levels of your organization have this information. If you
are not, consider taking the time to assemble this information,
particularly if you are in a role that makes it likely people will
turn to you for advice or help.
- If a client or someone you know tells you that he or she is thinking about suicide, get outside help immediately. Call 911 or local law enforcement. DO NOT ALLOW THE INDIVIDUAL TO LEAVE WITHOUT ENSURING HIS OR HER SAFETY.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a 24-hour, toll-free
suicide prevention service available to anyone in suicidal crisis.
Calls are routed to the closest possible crisis center in your area.
With more than 130 crisis centers across the country, their mission
is to provide immediate assistance to anyone seeking mental health
services. You can call for yourself, or someone you care about.
Calls are free and confidential.
Confidentiality
The identity of people seeking assistance from you or your agency
and any information they share should be treated with strict confidence.
This confidentiality standard should particularly apply to all employees
of any organization who have contact with people seeking advice,
including support staff and receptionists who may take an initial
call or screen a walk-in visit.
Objectivity
When working with people who are in distress, it is important to
remain non-judgmental and provide objective information as you would
expect if it were you in distress. What may be a crisis to someone
else may not seem like one to you. It is likely that you will not
know all of the circumstances contributing to their distress. It
also is important to know yourself and know your views on mental
health issues. Be aware of any blind spots that could possibly result
from those attitudes and feelings and look past them. Someone’s
life could be on the line.
Last update: Monday, November 09, 2009
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