I have a spouse who in the past used perscription drugs and would hurt themselves. I have since seperated (not divorced) and I beleive they are doing it again. I am in fear for my three sons going through this again. Two of them were old enough to remember the abuse and the ups and downs. I beleive my spouse needs mental help but will not seek it on their own.
2007-03-13 01:16:22 · 10 answers · asked by mybabyblue_eyes69 1 in Family & Relationships ➔ Marriage & Divorce
The fact that you are seperated (and I assume no longer living in the same home) makes this a more complicated issue. Getting someone committed means proving that they are incapble of judging their own condition and are a threat to themselves and/or to others. It's not an easy thing to prove under the law and committments can rip a family apart, so think very carefully before initiating this.
If you suspect that your children are in any kind of danger, then you need to contact child protective services. But I would suggest talking to your spouse first. Let him/her know that you care deeply about her and are worried about the children and her. Instead of being accusatory, be supportive. Get the rest of the family involved in this, including his/her parents and any siblings. If you've noticed something wrong, then there is a very good chance that they've noticed too. Your spouse will likely be more inclined to listen if they see that it's not just coming from an estranged spouse who might have ulterior motives.
Good luck!
2007-03-13 03:07:45 · answer #1 · answered by Ravanne_1 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Once you start this process, there is not turning back. Be ready for it, it isn't going to be easy of anyone. But know you are doing it for the right reasons and that for the children. You can go several different ways. Meet with the spouse, without children there. walls have ears. You inform them, that the children are going home with you, if they fight it. then you Will take action. This is not something that is not negotiable. They either take this time to get help on their own. or It goes to an agency and though the courts that could end up losing the children all together with supervised visits and only the court would decided what was best and if and when they could ever be involved again. That's doesn't work, find the doctor who prescript the pills and ask for some assistance. You could call CPS and have them investigate for abuse. If they become out of control being a danger to themselves or others ,call the police and have them 5150. they will lock them down for 72 hours and do an assessment of their mental status.
2007-03-13 01:38:52 · answer #2 · answered by livelovelaugh 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You can go to your local courthouse, to the Mental health Division and request that your spouse either be Baker Acted or file for a Marchman Act. There should be no fee to do either.
The Baker Act is involuntary treatment for mental health for individuals in a state where they could harm themselves or others.
A Marchman Act is involuntary treatment for substance abuse only.
Your petition will be presented to a judge to sign and the police will pick up your spouse.
Good luck to you and keep your children safe.
2007-03-13 01:25:45 · answer #3 · answered by sapphire_velvet 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i believe that since u are not divorced just seperated u still have the spousal rights. if this is the case and u truly fear for your sons' safety then i would seek legal advice from an attorney. legally u can do something. it's called an intervention. anyway u have to go through the court system. good luck to u and your sons
2007-03-13 01:23:53 · answer #4 · answered by a very happily married woman 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can do what my spouse tried and it didn't work. You could pay some friends and other hoodlums to torment the daylights out of your spouse. It may work and may not. Mine almost had me convinced that I was unstable. Then I realized that I was just miserbly unhappy with the way things were in my marriage that I couldn't control such as a spouse who drank too much, took way too many pills and lied constantly.I keep trying to fix it but I never have been able to do it by myself.
2007-03-13 01:26:38 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Call an ambulance to his residence when you know he is off his rocker. They will have him evaluated and make a decision. Try to get some support from someone in his family. I hope this helps. Good Luck!!
2007-03-13 01:25:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps you may consider getting advice from your family physician. Or the doctor that gave her the prescriptions. You may also consider speaking with attorney.
Good luck!
2007-03-13 01:20:47 · answer #7 · answered by U812B4 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
call your state mental hospital and see what their procedure is. usually a family member has to be willing to sign papers to commit. they usually have a little court hearing before hand and a pick up order is put in place here.
2007-03-13 01:24:32 · answer #8 · answered by misse 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Go to your department of mental health and ask, for some help and what you need to do.
2007-03-13 01:19:47 · answer #9 · answered by railroad_joe 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So get the divorce, and move on.
Let him live his life, what there is of it.
2007-03-13 01:23:39 · answer #10 · answered by A Military Veteran 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋