Mental Health First Aid for Dads: Why your role matters
As a dad, you may be one of the few people a stressed friend trusts. Knowing how to spot a mental‑health crisis and give calm, immediate support can save a life. This article gives clear, practical steps you can use right away: how to recognize danger signs, what to say, when to call crisis services, and how to keep both your friend and yourself safe while waiting for help.
Key quick facts to remember: trained crisis counselors are available 24/7 at 988 (call, text, or chat) and 911 should be used when there is an imminent threat to life or safety.
Recognizing signs of a mental‑health crisis
Crises can look different from person to person. Watch for sudden or severe changes from someone's normal behavior. Common red flags include:
- Verbal cues: talking about killing themselves, hopelessness, feeling trapped, or saying they are a burden to others.
- Behavioral changes: withdrawing from family or friends, giving away possessions, reckless actions, or intense agitation or aggression.
- Emotional and cognitive signs: rapid mood swings, severe anxiety or panic, confusion, paranoia, or hearing/seeing things others do not.
- Signs of overdose or medical emergency: unconsciousness, very slow or no breathing, choking/gurgling sounds, pinpoint pupils, or blue/gray lips—these require immediate medical response.
These warning signs are drawn from crisis and mental‑health organizations and public‑health guidance used by professionals and peer responders. If someone is showing signs of suicidal intent, psychosis, or an overdose, act quickly.
How to respond right now: Use ALGEE as your simple action plan
Mental Health First Aid teaches a five‑step action plan remembered by the acronym ALGEE. You don’t need formal certification to use these basics in an emergency:
- A — Approach & assess for risk: Find a private, calm spot if possible. Ask directly and plainly: “Are you thinking about killing yourself?” Direct questions do not increase risk and help you assess immediate danger. If there is an imminent risk, call 911 and say it’s a psychiatric emergency.
- L — Listen non‑judgmentally: Let them speak. Use short, calm prompts: “I hear you,” “That sounds really hard.” Avoid minimizing (“You’ll get over it”) or arguing.
- G — Give reassurance and information: Say you’re glad they told you, that help is available, and that feelings can change. Offer to stay or connect them to a counselor now.
- E — Encourage professional help: Offer to call 988 together, help arrange an appointment, or contact a trusted clinician. If they refuse and you believe there is imminent danger, call 911.
- E — Encourage self‑help and social supports: Identify small next steps: a friend to stay with them, a crisis center, or follow‑up with a primary care or mental‑health provider.
Simple, direct phrases you can use right now:
- “I’m really worried about you — can we talk?”
- “Are you thinking about killing yourself? I want to know so I can help.”
- “You don’t have to deal with this alone — I’ll call/text 988 and we’ll stay on the line.”
These steps are designed to stabilize the situation and connect your friend to trained help; they don’t require you to be a therapist.
Specific crises: overdose, severe agitation, and next steps
Overdose: If you suspect an opioid overdose (very slow/absent breathing, unresponsive, pinpoint pupils), call 911 immediately and give naloxone if available. Naloxone (Narcan) is safe to use and can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose; always stay with the person until emergency responders arrive. Lay the person on their side (recovery position) if they are breathing but not fully alert.
Severe agitation or psychosis: If someone is extremely agitated, disoriented, or acting violently, your priority is safety. Move to a safe space, remove potential weapons, and call 911 if the person is a danger to themselves or others. When possible, request responders with crisis‑deescalation or mental‑health training.
After immediate danger is addressed: connect them with ongoing supports. Use SAMHSA’s crisis‑care framework to find local mobile crisis teams or stabilization services in many communities; these teams can often provide on‑site de‑escalation and linkage to continued care.
Resources, boundaries, and caring for yourself
If you’re unsure where to start, NAMI’s HelpLine and the 988 Lifeline can guide you to local resources and next steps. NAMI also offers weekday helplines and resource directories for families and caregivers. If the situation is a crisis, call or text 988 for immediate counselor support or 911 for imminent danger.
Set clear boundaries for what you can offer: you can listen, help get them to counseling, and contact crisis lines — but you are not expected to solve their illness. After supporting a friend in crisis, check in with your own supports and consider debriefing with a trusted friend, partner, or counselor. If you feel overwhelmed, contact your primary care provider or a mental‑health professional.
Want more skills? Consider an MHFA course (in‑person or online) to practice ALGEE and learn role‑play‑based techniques used by trained First Aiders. MHFA training is widely available and teaches both crisis and non‑crisis support skills.
