Step Back From That Ledge My Friend (Psychiatric Emergencies)

Psychiatric and behavioral emergencies are some of the most complex, emotionally charged calls EMS providers will ever respond to. In this episode, we take a deep dive into mental health crises, suicide, and behavioral emergencies—why they’re becoming more common, how they present in the field, and how EMTs can approach these patients safely, professionally, and with empathy.

Drawing from both textbook fundamentals and real-world experience, we break down how to recognize a true mental health emergency, how to communicate with patients in crisis, and why these calls can escalate quickly if warning signs are missed. We also tackle excited delirium as our Medical Term of the Week, discuss involuntary holds, scene safety, and documentation, and wrap with an important reminder that EMS providers are not immune to mental health struggles themselves.

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Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Intro, life updates, and setting the tone

12:06 – Overview of psychiatric emergencies, mental health crisis, and suicide

19:09 – Medical Term of the Week: Excited Delirium

36:28 – Recognizing behavioral emergencies and red flags

43:04 – Triggers vs. causes in mental health crises

01:11:22 – Assessing mental status and patient communication

01:47:23 – Involuntary holds, documentation, and legal considerations

02:07:34 – Tools of the Trade: Airway adjuncts

02:07:53 – Student Tip of the Week: EMS provider mental health and asking for help

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⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and storytelling purposes only. It is not medical advice or official EMT training. Always follow your accredited instructors and local protocols.

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