Emergency Reality Check InfographicPlus
Mental Health & Emergency Safety Tool
Emergency Reality Check
A clear guide to distinguishing between physical threats and internal crises.
Call 911
Physical World Emergencies
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Physical Violence
You see someone being attacked or a weapon is being used right now.
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Immediate Danger
You see an active fire, smell gas, or see a serious accident with injuries.
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Medical Crisis
Someone is unconscious, bleeding severely, or struggling to breathe.
Pause & Assess
Internal / Mental Crises
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Imagined Harm
Voices or thoughts claim someone is being hurt without any physical evidence.
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Delusions of Threat
Feeling that people are replaced, spying, or plotting secrets against you.
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Psychic Knowledge
"Knowing" through visions or intuition that danger is occurring far away.
The 3-Step Reality Check
1 Externalize
Are others reacting? If the room is calm and quiet, the "emergency" is likely internal.
2 Verify Source
Did you see it with your eyes? If it came from a "voice" or a "knowing," it is not 911-appropriate.
3 Select Tool
Match the tool to the crisis. Use 911 for the body/world. Use your Support Network for the mind.
My Safety Network
CONFIDENTIAL EMERGENCY CONTACTS
988 Crisis Line
741741 Text HOME
My Primary Support Person
Secondary / Emergency Peer
Grounding Protocol 5-4-3-2-1 Technique
Name: 5 things you see, 4 you can touch, 3 you hear, 2 smell, and 1 taste.
This document is a therapeutic guide. Always prioritize physical safety if unsure.