Crisis Services
Valley HealthCare System’s crisis team works around the clock to help people in Marion, Monongalia, Preston and Taylor counties. During a mental health or substance use crisis, the immediate goal of Valley’s crisis team is to stabilize the individual and advocate for their well-being. There are a number of ways we can help.
Crisis Hotline
Call Valley’s crisis hotline for immediate assistance: 1-800-232-0020. Our Crisis Team is available 24/7 to talk to anyone in crisis. No matter the situation, you’ll hear a kind voice on the other end of the line. An intervention specialist will compassionately listen and provide you with the support you need. This phone call may be the turning point you need.
Everyone on our crisis team is a trained mental health professional, and can help with issues relating to:
Escalating mental health symptoms.
Severe depression or anxiety.
Thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
Coping with grief, stressors, or trauma.
If a crisis continues to escalate, our intervention specialist will call 911 and relay information to the operator. Valley’s team will continue to work with the caller to de-escalate the situation as EMS makes their way to the caller’s location.
If there’s an immediate risk to yourself or others, call 911 or
call/text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Mobile Crisis Team
In addition to our hotline, Valley’s Crisis Team can be dispatched to assist with de-escalation. Our specialists are trained in crisis de-escalation and supportive listening for adults 18 and older. We will help to create a safety plan, as well as identify supports and community resources. Our Mobile Crisis Team may be called to help in non-life-threatening situations such as:
A traumatic event. The shock that comes after an unexpected adverse event can bring about a crisis. An event such as a house fire, car accident, the sudden death of a loved one, or a bitter family argument can cause crisis.
A behavioral or emotional crisis. This kind of crisis occurs when a person feels out of control because of a real or imagined situation. It might be the result of a mental illness, substance use or other medical condition.
Psychosis that shows a disconnect from reality. A person experiencing a psychotic disturbance may hallucinate or have delusions. This kind of psychosis may be caused by a medical condition or mental health disorder.
Welfare checks. Our mobile crisis team is called by law enforcement to
assist with welfare checks. These calls are usually made by a loved one who
is concerned about a person’s well-being. Our job is to join the police officers
to check on someone who may be in crisis.
Short-Term Residential Treatment for Clients in Crisis
Valley’s Crisis Residential Unit (CRU) is an important part of our commitment to comprehensive care. It’s where people in crisis can receive help without having to stay at a hospital.
Psychiatric Crisis
The CRU provides a safe place for clients to receive help if their psychiatric symptoms have escalated. Some signs of a crisis episode include risky or out of control behavior, or acute depression that leads to extreme withdrawal or talk of suicide. There are many other signs of a mental health crisis, which you can read about here.
Drug or Alcohol Withdrawal Crisis
In addition to helping people in a mental health crisis, Valley’s crisis team helps to stabilize people who are in the early stages of drug or alcohol withdrawal. At the CRU, clients receive medically-supervised care throughout the detoxification process.
Admission to Valley’s Crisis Residential Unit
If you’re in crisis, the first thing to do is call our crisis hotline at 1-800-232-0020. Our crisis intervention team will listen to you and help you take the next steps to begin treatment at Valley’s CRU.
Medical Clearance
First, you’ll need medical clearance. Our crisis team can explain the procedure to you, but it is very simple. You’ll need to go to a nearby hospital emergency room and tell them you need medical clearance so you can begin treatment at Valley. It’s a common procedure and the hospital staff knows exactly what to do.
A doctor will conduct an exam and order a few tests. Any medical issues that are detected can be addressed by the doctors there. This way, there won’t be any unexpected medical complications while you’re receiving care at Valley’s CRU.
Once you receive medical clearance, our crisis stabilization team will help you begin your recovery at Valley’s Crisis Residential Unit.
If you’d like to know more about medical clearance, call Valley’s Crisis Residential Unit at 304-225-2280.
Stabilization Treatment
While you’re here, our team provides daily psychiatric exams, ongoing medication management, and individual and group therapy. Your condition will be monitored regularly by an on-staff physician.
A crisis can bring about fear in clients and their loved ones. Fear of treatment, fear of avoiding treatment. And fear of the unknown. Our crisis team understands those countless emotions. That’s why we think of Valley’s CRU as a safety net that can bring stability back into our clients’ lives.
Our goal is to stabilize our clients and help them onto their path of recovery. Clients undergoing detox treatment generally stay at the CRU for three to seven days. Clients who have experienced a mental health crisis may stay from three days to a month or longer. The length is determined by the client’s individual treatment plan.
After Stabilization
Once stabilized, clients may choose to enter a short or long-term treatment program, also located at Valley Treatment Center in Fairmont. Our mission is always people-focused, so our clients are involved in decisions related to their care.
If you’d like to talk to someone at Valley’s Crisis Residential Unit, call 304-225-2280.
For more on Valley’s substance use disorder treatment program, click here.
Crisis Walk-in Clinic
Valley accepts walk-in crisis clients at our Morgantown and Fairmont offices Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Our crisis team is there to help de-escalate a client’s crisis situation. If a walk-in client wishes to speak with one of Valley’s psychiatrists or counselors, we can set up a future appointment and take care of any necessary paperwork.
Voluntary Placement
Some people may feel they need more assistance than community resources can provide. If that’s the case, they may want to voluntarily admit themselves to Valley for short-term crisis care. First, however, they will first need to admit themselves to a nearby hospital for evaluation. At the hospital, the client will be checked to determine if they are medically fit to enter treatment. This simple medical clearance assures the client it’s safe to begin treatment at Valley. Further questions about voluntary placement can be answered by a member of Valley’s crisis team. Call 304-225-2280 to reach Valley’s Crisis Residential Unit.
Mental Hygiene Petitions and Commitment
Valley’s crisis staff facilitates mental hygiene petitions and hearings to determine if a person is at risk. Mental hygiene petitions are a last resort for people who are in imminent danger to themselves or others and will not voluntarily accept help. A licensed examiner is required by law to speak with the concerned party — including the person suspected of dangerous behavior — within two hours of filing the petition. If the examiner finds probable cause for admission to a hospital for psychiatric care, a commitment hearing will be scheduled with the mental hygiene commissioner for that county. An attorney representing the client may question the petitioner and the examiner to ensure the client’s fair representation. The attorney will then offer closing remarks to the commissioner. Upon review of the therapist’s assessment and the attorney’s statement, the commissioner will determine if the person is to be involuntarily committed.
How to Spot Someone in Crisis
A crisis is not the same as an emergency. A crisis is a major disruption in a person’s behavior and emotions. In crisis, a person may feel that a problem is not solvable. They may feel their life is getting out of their control, or they are at their breaking point.
Signs to look for:
Excessive anger or agitation.
Irrational talk or confused thinking.
Extreme lack of energy.
Frenzied or extreme anxious behavior.
Major changes in day-to-day tasks.
Disturbances in sleep or appetite.
Talk about harming themselves.
Talk about harming someone else.
Frequent mentions of death.
Giving away possessions.
Saying goodbye.
Isolation or withdrawal.