What can I do to make the home safer in case my loved one has a mental health crisis?

Note: NAMI volunteers are not medical, mental health, or public safety professionals. The material outlined below is informational, and we hope that it helps provide guidance toward getting support.

Your personal safety and the safety of your loved one is critical. If there is a serious, life-threatening emergency, call 911 right away. You can ask if there is a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) officer trained to respond to mental health crises. Reference NAMI’s Navigating a Mental Health Crisis Guide for tips on interacting with law enforcement and supporting your loved one through an urgent mental health crisis.

Steps you can take to make your home safer are listed below. Please keep in mind that it may not be possible to get rid of everything that could potentially be used for harm. If you’re worried your loved one will not be safe with these measures in place, consider options for getting your loved one emergency mental health treatment. Reference What can I do if my loved one has a mental health crisis? for more information.

Steps to Make Your Home Safer

Remove all firearms from the home.
If you cannot remove firearms from the home, safely lock and store them. Make sure all firearms are unloaded. Lock ammunition in a separate location from the firearms.
Store sharp objects like knives, razors, and scissors in a lockable drawer or container.
Store all medications in a lockable cabinet or box, especially sedative, narcotic, and opioid medications.
Lock up or remove all alcoholic beverages and recreational drugs.
Lock up or remove all other objects that could be used for harm, including ropes, belts, long cords, fuel, lighters, and household chemicals.
Secure and lock windows on upper levels of the home and restrict rooftop access.
Consider keeping car keys on your person or hidden away.
Listen closely to your loved one for any mention of suicide, desire to harm themselves, desire to harm others, or specific household items that could be used for harm. If they are in treatment, help inform their treatment professional about any safety-related concerns and ensure your loved one’s safety plan is up to date.

Mental health crises can be difficult to predict, but preparing yourself by knowing the warning signs, keeping your home environment safe, and learning about crisis services and how to navigate them can help you support your loved one in the best ways possible.

We are so glad you found this information. NAMI HelpLine offers a Family Caregiver Service. It brings together family caregivers with shared experiences and equips HelpLine Specialists with knowledge and insights into what helps. If you are a family caregiver and would like support from a peer, we encourage you to call the NAMI Family Caregiver HelpLine at 800-950-NAMI (6264) or send a text to 62640. We are available Monday through Friday, from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm EST.

Hours of operation: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. EST

Call: 800-950-NAMI (6264)

Text: 62640

Email: helpline@nami.org

Website: www.nami.org/help