A health crisis means more than just a problem with your medical care. It can have a ripple effect on everything from family relationships to finances to, on a basic level, how you live your day-to-day life. There are many different responses to a health crisis, and there is no right or wrong way to respond.

A healthcare crisis is a combination of multiple issues that threaten the ability of a system to deliver safe and effective care. There is a workforce crisis with tens of thousands of positions unfilled across all care settings. There is a patient backup crisis that results in patients spending days or weeks in the emergency department or a medical-surgical floor before they can be discharged to a more appropriate level of care. And there is a financial crisis, with hospitals experiencing losses at an alarming rate and unable to sustain their operations.

These pressures are being felt differently by different people. Communities of color and individuals with disabilities are disproportionately affected by these stresses, which in turn exacerbate longstanding inequities in access to and outcomes in healthcare.

Those who are in a health crisis may feel anxious, fearful or powerless. They might have a hard time accepting their diagnosis or they might be overwhelmed by the sense of an uncertain future. They may experience depression or anxiety, have trouble concentrating or have thoughts of self-harm or suicide. They might withdraw from social activities and find themselves feeling cut off from friends and loved ones. They might feel shame about their condition or have difficulty communicating with others. They might have to learn new coping skills or cope with the loss of their usual routines.