Building the Path to Home
Links to sustainable housing
for people with dual diagnosis
Risks, crises and emergencies
This section helps you evaluate the risks the person faces including risks to his or her housing situation. It also explains how to respond to crises and emergencies, and discusses consent and capacity issues.
Introduction
As a dual diagnosis service provider put it:
The greatest risk comes from not being understood . . . that's what leads to behaviours that then trigger the more traditional risk factors and bring the whole thing to someone's attention . . .
Just as having supports can sustain housing, the absence or loss of supports can lead to a serious crisis and the loss of housing.
Many people with a dual diagnosis who do not have supports that meet their needs will be at risk in some way. The risk may involve losing housing, being terminated from an agency that has supported them, or losing support people or services. The risk may be as serious as causing significant harm to themselves or others.
The table below lists types of problems you may come across and suggests who to contact for help.
| Risk |
Contact |
Loss of housing |
Case manager or housing advocacy agent |
Loss of supports |
Case manager or Griffin Community Support Network (GCSN) |
Victimization |
Case manager or GCSN |
Harm to himself or herself (e.g., suicidal talk or behaviour, self-destructive behaviour, self-care and health issues) |
First call 911 or crisis team, then consult with a dual diagnosis specialist, doctor, case manager or community health center |
Harm to others (e.g., aggression or threats of aggression) |
First call 911 or a crisis team, then a mental health support agency |
Lack of competence to manage current level of autonomy |
Mental health supports or case manager or GCSN |
Fear of harm from others |
Mental health supports or case manager or GCSN |
Last updated:
Friday, November 2, 2007 4:33 PM
DISCLAIMER: Information on this site is not to be used for diagnosis, treatment or referral services and CAMH does not provide diagnostic, treatment or referral services through the Internet. Individuals should contact their personal physician, and/or their local addiction or mental health agency for further information.