US Medical Term · mental-health
Crisis Intervention
Intervención en crisis
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Crisis Intervention |
| Spanish (Español) | Intervención en crisis |
| Chinese (中文) | 危機介入 |
| Korean (한국어) | 위기 개입 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Can thiệp khủng hoảng |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Crisis intervention |
| Portuguese (Português) | Intervenção em crise |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | การแทรกแซงภาวะวิกฤต |
| Japanese (日本語) | クライシス介入 |
What it means
Crisis intervention is immediate, short-term support provided to people experiencing an acute mental health crisis — such as thoughts of suicide, a psychotic episode, or an overwhelming emotional emergency. The goal is to stabilize the person, ensure safety, and connect them to ongoing care. In the US, crisis services include the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988), mobile crisis teams that can respond in the community, and crisis stabilization units as an alternative to emergency rooms. Many communities also offer walk-in crisis centers. Crisis intervention is not the same as long-term treatment — it is the first step toward connecting with appropriate ongoing mental health care.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
I am in a mental health crisis right now and I need immediate support.
Estoy en una crisis de salud mental ahora mismo y necesito apoyo inmediato.
My family member is having a mental health emergency — what crisis services are available?
Un familiar mío está teniendo una emergencia de salud mental — ¿qué servicios de crisis están disponibles?
I called 988 for crisis support — what happens next in terms of follow-up care?
Llamé al 988 para apoyo en crisis — ¿qué sucede después en términos de atención de seguimiento?
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026