24/7 Emergency Psychiatric Services

• Reaching Out

When you contact Maarga, the situation and its urgency are understood. Relevant clinical information is gathered from the family, and circumstances are discussed swiftly with a consultant psychiatrist. Once the Psychiatrist assess the patient a go ahead is given. Only the trained team is arranged to complete the retrieval process and bring the patient safely. The in-charge retrieval nurse promptly arranges a medical team of nurses, an experienced and relevant psychiatrist, a security guard, and an ambulance.

• Safe Journey To The Hospital

Maarga's retrieval process involves the use of compassion and clarity for the person experiencing a severe psychiatric crisis. Our team approaches carefully, explains why they're being taken, assures the patient, and works to minimise distress during the process. If the retrieval has to be completed from a public space or from a difficult-to-access place, our staff is trained to follow a safe protocol as appropriate.

• Assessment and Stabilisation

Once the person reaches Maarga, a comprehensive clinical assessment is carried out. Mental health history is understood along with their current symptoms, behaviour, risks, and physical health. Based on the analysis, appropriate emergency psychiatric treatment is provided to help stabilise acute symptoms.

• Comprehensive Assessment: The clinical team assesses current symptoms, behaviour, history, and immediate risk according to the MHCA 2017 standards to determine the appropriate psychiatric emergency treatment.

• 1:1 Nursing Care: For closer observation during a psychiatric emergency, a dedicated nurse can provide one-to-one care and continuous monitoring. This level of support can be increased further based on the person's condition and safety needs.

• De-Escalation: The distress and agitation associated with a psychiatric emergency that can put the affected person or others at risk is handled through de-escalation. The intensity of the situation is stabilised using calm communication and appropriate support.

• Supportive Counselling: A severe depressive episode can make it difficult to communicate what a person is feeling. Supportive counselling provides a safe space to express distress while the clinical team addresses the immediate crisis.

• Individual and Family Therapy: Individual therapy can support continued treatment after the acute episode, while family therapy can help close relatives understand the mental health crisis better to offer appropriate support during recovery.

• Risk Management: Assessing and managing risks becomes particularly important when depression involves suicidal thoughts, self-harm, and threats to others. Our team evaluates these concerns and takes appropriate measures to maintain safety.

• Supervised Retrieval and Admission: Severe depression can prevent a person from reaching the hospital safely. In such situations, Maarga carries out supervised retrieval and admission.

• 24/7 Helpline: Maarga's helpline number, 7026256565, provides a round-the-clock point of contact for individuals and families seeking urgent support when depression becomes difficult or unsafe to manage at home.

• Individualised Supervision: Emergency care is supervised by a consultant psychiatrist, who guides clinical assessment and treatment decisions in line with the patient's specific needs and condition.

• Led by Psychiatric Social Worker: A psychiatric social worker helps coordinate care around the person's psychosocial needs and works with the individual and family to understand the circumstances surrounding the crisis.

• Multi-disciplinary Support: Besides the consultant psychiatrist, different professionals contribute to the person's care to consider the holistic nature of symptoms, behaviour, emotional needs, and recovery instead of treating them in isolation.

• Crisis Management: The acute symptoms contributing to the crisis are addressed along with the safety concerns, and the aim is to help the person reach a more stable state before long-term needs are addressed.

• Evidence-Based Protocols: Our team of psychologists and psychiatrists use established approaches when assessing and managing mental health disorders and emergency crises.

• Holistic Care Plan: The treatment plan extends to the person's broader clinical and psychosocial needs to provide long-term and regulated care.

• Transparent Progress Mapping: The effects of the treatment and any complications are tracked so that changes in the person's condition can be understood and communicated clearly and used to guide the next steps.

• Support for Families and Carers: Family members and caregivers are guided throughout the process to help them understand the crisis, participate appropriately in care and prepare for the person's needs after the immediate emergency.

• Continued Follow-Ups

Regular reviews allow the treating psychiatrist to monitor symptoms, understand the response to treatment, address complications, and make changes as required. This approach is particularly important for conditions that may relapse or have recurring episodes.

• Recognition of Early Signs

Changes such as increased withdrawal, disrupted sleep or appetite, worsening mood, unusual behaviour, reduced cooperation, agitation, and distress may signal changes in a person's condition. Identifying these changes early can help the family seek professional support before the situation becomes more severe.

• Follow Through the Treatment Plan

Continuing the prescribed treatment and attending recommended therapy sessions can help maintain stability after the psychiatric emergency treatment. Treatment should not be stopped or changed at any point without discussing it with the treating psychiatrist.

• Family or Caregiver Involvement

Families or caregivers play an important role in recognising changes and supporting ongoing psychiatric care. Clear communication with the clinical team helps strengthen their understanding of what to watch for and when urgent help may be needed.

• Support at Home

After stabilising the emergency, Maarga's home-care and outreach services can provide home visits, nursing care, depot injection services, and psychotherapy as appropriate. Such extended support helps continue treatment without needing to remain in hospital, especially for those with mobility issues.

• Having an Emergency Plan

Knowing whom to contact if symptoms worsen or safety becomes a concern is a critical place to start well before the psychiatric emergency occurs. With Maarga, you get a 24/7 emergency helpline and retrieval services to act quickly.