Family Crisis Resources

A family crisis can mean a variety of things. For most people, a family crisis means domestic violence, child abuse, suicide attempts, elder abuse, and any situation that may lead to physical harm or death. Many resources are available for a family in crisis. These resources fall under four main categories.

Call 911

For anyone in immediate danger or thinks she is in danger, calling 911 is the smartest thing to do. The dispatcher who answers the call assesses the situation and determines the severity of the threat and sends out a police car or an ambulance. The police are trained in dealing with crisis situations. The police can also give you names or numbers of resources in the area such as victim services at a local precinct.

Shelters

Shelters provide refuge for women who are victims of domestic violence. The shelters are in unnamed and confidential locations for the protection of the women. In all cases, the shelters have accommodations for the woman and her children. In addition to a place to sleep, the family gets food, clothes, and toiletries. In many cases, a woman runs away with her children with no more than the clothes on their backs. National domestic violence hotlines to call are 1-800-621-HOPE (4673) and 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) By calling these number you are put into contact with someone to direct you the a local shelter. A person can call this number from a phone after getting safely away from her abuser. Another option is to go to the nearest police station. Usually victim advocates there who can tell a woman where a shelter is.

24-Hour Crisis Hotlines

In some cases, a person just needs to talk to someone. This is especially true for people who are suicidal or who think they may harm their spouse, children or their elderly parents. National numbers also offer local resources, depending on your city or state. National toll-free numbers to call are 1-800-382-5603, 1-800-273-TALK (8255) and 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433). Other resources can be found in your local Yellow Pages under the heading of Crisis Intervention or Hotlines.

Family Counseling

A family crisis involves all members of a family. Counseling is a good way to talk with a professional to find the skills and tool needed to help people cope with anger, stress and other issues that lead to a family crisis. The Yellow Pages offer a lengthy list of counseling services in your immediate areas. Your health insurance company may also offer a list of mental health clinic or services that offer family counseling.

References

• University of Deleware: Surviving a Family Crisis
• Family Crisis Centers: Safe Shelter Swelling
• Suicide Hotlines: Suicide and Crisis Hotlines
• Feminist: Domestic Violence