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Hennepin County, Minnesota

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Mental health emergencies

Hennepin County can help people who are in the midst of a mental health crisis.

Hennepin County mobile crisis teams

Adults, 18 and older

COPE – 612-596-1223

Children, ages 17 and younger

Child Crisis – 612-348-2233

Make your home safer

You can act now, if a member of your household is at risk for a mental health crisis. Read below about a Safer Home.

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Get help in a crisis

Mobile crisis teams will respond to crises in Hennepin County, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Adult crisis

To reach our mobile team, call 612-596-1223.

Call Community Outreach for Psychiatric Emergencies (COPE) when a severe disturbance of mood or thinking threatens a person's safety or the safety of others. COPE professionals are available to manage the immediate crisis and provide a clinical assessment. Telephone consultations also are available. This service is available to all adults 18 and older, in Hennepin County.

Child crisis

To reach our mobile team, call 612-348-2233.

We provide support to children 17 and younger who are experiencing a crisis. We will help to de-escalate the crisis, provide a risk assessment, develop a plan to keep your child safe at home, and to offer resources and referrals. Telephone consultation also are available.

If someone is in immediate physical danger, call 911.

Be prepared in a crisis

When someone is experiencing a mental health crisis, be observant and decrease access to weapons, medications and any other objects that could be used to cause harm.

If possible, have this information on hand before an emergency occurs.

Download the Be prepared worksheet (DOCX).

Providers and supports

  • Physician
  • Therapist
  • Psychiatrist
  • Case manager
  • Other

Medications

  • Name and dosage of all medications
  • Recent medication changes
  • Remaining medications
  • Name and location of pharmacy

History

  • Prior suicide attempts
  • Self-injury (non-suicidal, i.e. cutting, burning, etc.)
  • Alcohol and/or drug use
  • Aggressive behavior
  • Impulsive behavior
  • What has worked before?

Family and social history

  • Recent experience with a suicide attempt, or death by suicide among family or peers
  • Mental health concerns
  • Drug and/or alcohol abuse

Make a Safer Home

Learn the Safer Home process

This video series will take you through the steps to make your home safer when a member of your household is experiencing a psychiatric emergency.

Watch the whole video

Making a safer home (YouTube)

Review a single chapter

Kitchen (YouTube)

Bathroom (YouTube)

Bedroom (YouTube)

Living Room (YouTube)

Garage (YouTube)

Prepare your home

  • Think now about objects that could cause harm.
  • Scan the area and secure or remove them.

Remove weapons

Secure guns and other weapons or remove them from the home during the crisis.

  • Ask a friend or family member for help.
  • Ask your local gun or shooting club about storage.
  • Use a gun lock.
  • Store ammunition in a separate location.
  • Contact police about removing guns.

Provide support

  • Be observant.
  • Be direct. Ask if the person is thinking of suicide or self-harm.
  • Acknowledge the situation and seek help.

Limit access to medications

  • Store medicine in a lock box or other secure location.
  • Dispose of unused medications.
  • Buy over-the-counter medications, such as Tylenol, in smaller quantities.

Checklist for a safer home (DOCX).

Evaluate the situation

Here are some situations when a Safer Home approach is helpful. Pay attention to determine if the person is

Suicidal

Thinking about, considering, or planning to end one’s life.

Self-harming

The deliberate, non-suicidal injuring of one's body, including cutting, scratching, burning, and other forms of self injury.

Experiencing psychosis

Psychosis is a loss of contact with reality that usually includes: False beliefs about what is taking place or who someone is; seeing or hearing things that aren't there.

Acting aggressively or out of control

Behavior that cannot be de-escalated and involves a risk to the individual, property damage, threats to harm others or a verbal or physical attack.

Impulsive

To act, intentionally or unintentionally, without thinking decisions through, without regard for consequences. These actions can place them or others at risk.

Impaired by alcohol or drugs

When use of any substance results in an altered perception and a reduction of a person's ability to think or behave within social norms.

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