Navigating a psychiatric emergency can be scary and overwhelming. But now, there's an app for that.
It's called oscER, or Organized Support Companion in an Emergency Situation.
The free mobile app offers information on what to do before, during and after a psychiatric crisis. It also provides quick access to a host of local resources, including hospitals, clinics, and support groups.
Renee Cookson, community development director of the San Diego chapter of the National Alliance for Mental Illness, helped create the app, which launched June 30.
“We just felt like we needed to be able to explain to people, what is a crisis," Cookson said. "And once they go to the hospital, what does that look like, and what is my loved one going through in the emergency department?”
Cookson said the app is designed to help people reduce their anxiety and better manage an acute episode of mental illness.
