Safety, Crisis & Emergency Guidance

Call emergency services right away if there is:

• Immediate danger to a person’s safety
• Trouble breathing, chest pain, or sudden severe medical distress
• A medical emergency where symptoms are unclear, severe, or rapidly worsening
• A seizure lasting longer than 5 minutes, or repeated seizures without recovery
• Sudden loss of consciousness that does not improve
• A serious fall or injury that may require urgent medical attention

If you are unsure whether a situation is an emergency, it is always okay to choose safety and call 911.

For all ages

• 988 Suicide Crisis Helpline
  Call or text 988
  Available 24/7, in English and French
  You do not need to be suicidal to call, support is available for intense distress, overwhelm, or crisis.

For children and youth

• Kids Help Phone
  Call 1-800-668-6868 (24/7)
  Text CONNECT to 686868 (youth)
  Confidential support for children and teens who feel scared, overwhelmed, or unsure what to do.

For adults

• Crisis Text Line (Canada)
  Text CONNECT to 741741
  24/7 text support for adults experiencing emotional crisis or distress.

If there is concern about medication errors, accidental ingestion, or exposure to harmful substances:

• Canada Poison Centres
  Call 1-844-POISON-X (1-844-764-7669)
  Available 24/7 across Canada

This is especially important for children, older adults, and anyone managing multiple medications.

FND symptoms or episodes can look frightening, even when they are not medical emergencies.

Helpful steps often include:

• Staying calm and using a soft, steady voice
• Reducing noise, crowds, and bright lights
• Creating physical space while staying nearby
• Avoiding many questions during overwhelm
• Offering simple grounding options (quiet room, dim lights, cool cloth)
• Allowing time for recovery afterward

If symptoms feel different than usual, unsafe, or do not settle, seek medical or crisis support.

Children and teens may become frightened or overwhelmed when symptoms appear suddenly.

Supportive responses may include:

• Simple, reassuring language
• Quickly reducing sensory input
• Moving to a quiet, predictable space
• Avoiding pressure to explain or talk
• Contacting parents or caregivers if symptoms do not improve

If safety becomes a concern, contact emergency or crisis services.

Supporting someone during an episode can be emotionally and physically demanding.

Helpful reminders:

• Your calm presence can help reduce distress
• It is okay to ask another trusted adult for help
• Take time to rest after the situation resolves
• Caregivers may also use crisis lines if they feel overwhelmed or unsafe

You do not have to manage urgent situations on your own.

If symptoms change, intensify, or feel harder to manage than usual:

• Seek medical advice
• Use crisis supports if emotional distress becomes overwhelming
• Ask for help sooner rather than later

Needing support is not a failure. It is a response to real challenges.

Many provinces and territories offer local mental health crisis lines through provincial health services.

Your family doctor, local emergency department, or provincial health authority can help direct you to supports available in your area.

Healing Horizons for FND support groups are calm community spaces, but they are not crisis services.

Do not use support groups:

• During a medical emergency
• When immediate mental health crisis support is needed
• If someone is unsafe or in immediate danger

In these situations, use emergency or crisis services first.

Consider contacting a healthcare provider if:

• Symptoms change significantly from a usual pattern
• Mobility, speech, or awareness worsens suddenly
• Episodes become more frequent or more severe
• School, work, or home environments become unsafe without added support