what do I need to do to get some one to get checked out for Mental Health?

Question

Ok I'm 28 and I have some one VERY VERY Close to me in my famliy that I and some other people in my Famliy thinks needs to be checked in to a Mental Health place for a day or two to be checked out.. Now we know they will Not go on there on and Every body tells me that I'm one of three people that can do it, and the other two said they would back me up if I wanted to do it, but that as far as they know , from them going out and asking around about it, Is that I'm the only one that can start the wheels moveing and that they could fight it or est.. but that they had to have me to even start to get it done. seeing as I'm the oldest. now I want to know what it is that I can do.. what I need to do to get it done or where to ture to find the answers that I need.. thanks for your time

ok we have talked to DR's and Have Done everything to make sure we were not just seeing something that was not there.. and just today They fliped and started thowing stuff at my sister for nothing when she walked in the door. I asked and everybody said they she had just "WALKED" in the door.. I know they are under a lot of stress, but we all know they are really depressed and I have heard them say they wanted to die a few times and other people have told me that they had talked a lot about "doing them self in" lately.. I can't prove that they said this. and they have kids liveing with them at this time.. they have some helth problems so that lead to some money problems.. we have talked to her before about this and they keep saying they are fine.. they sleep alot , but i don't know if that's cause of the MEDs they are on ( and yes they have a LOT of meds, from 3 or 4 Dr's and I'm not sure if the Dr's know what all they are on. I need help . I really think they need to go in for a dayor2

Answer 1

Hi ryan- i am not sure where you live but i found this general website that has various information on it that might be useful http://www.nimh.nih.gov/healthinformation/gettinghelp.cfm

i have been on both sides of this problem, i am not sure how serious your situation is or what problem exactly you are talking about but i will tell you what i can:

i was suffering from depression and i guess i would call it pretty severe, i wasn't getting out of bed, crying constantly and having thoughts of suicide. in my case (and this might be true for your situation) i did not even realize i was "sick" i really just thought that what i perceived was reality. that's why it's an "illness," because you do not live in the same reality that other people do. i really thought my life was pointless, that my friends were happier when i wasn't there, etc. when three of my close friends took me aside and just said "look this is not you. something is wrong. let us help you" it was like a huge relief. i still felt horribly depressed of course, but i was so unhappy with my life that basically i was ready to go along with anything.

a few years later i had a close friend threatening suicide, i do not know how serious he was, but i called a local clinic and asked if i could make an appt for him and see if i could get him to come in. i told them he was suicidal and reaching out to me. they were able to set something aside and i was able to convince him to go talk. (this didnt really work because he just told them he wasn't suicidal and that he was fine and they let him go) but the outcome will depend on the person you are helping. there are places that are very understanding of the fragility of the situaiton.

do you think your loved one knows that there is something wrong in his/her life? either way, you three need to tell him that you are worried and that you don't think things are right and you think this person needs professional help. if you make the path to help easy, he is more likely to take it. so perhaps set up an appt, drive him there, figure out how it will be paid for if that is an issue, and make a plan to take care of this person if they need inpatient care. do they have children/pets/work where special arrangements will have to be made? try to take care of this in advance with the help of family and friends. also keep in mind there are many methods of treatment if this person is averse to one particular form or another.

and remeber that the path to recovery is not always quick, so please consider getting into some counseling yourself & soliciting the help of friends/family if you will need to be a big support in this person's life, because you cannot cannot do it alone. but really you are doing the right thing. at any rate, you won't make things worse.

i hope you three are able to set up a day soon (this weekend?) where you can just go see this person (preferrably at home) and give it to them straight. because if things are bad, there may not be time to dance around the issue. and even thought it's hard, i think honest and direct is the best way to go. just be persistent and give your friend time to calm down and really consider what you are saying.

i think i can honestly say that my friends helped save my life and i hope you have success with getting your friend to take steps in the right direction.

Answer 2

OK, I need to ask you, do you feel like the children are at risk here? It would seem this would be your main concern. If so, you must make a report to the child protective services. They have social workers who work with the families, they are not there to take the children away from the parents unless they are in imminent danger, but they will intervene and insist that the parents get help if they need it. This is not something you have control over, and they will fight you all the way if you try to insist that they seek psychiatric attention. You are also not qualifies to diagnose their condition, so I would be careful how you approach this. Please be sure that the children are safe, first and foremost. Talk to a social worker and let them get involved, rather than have it look like you are interfering, since they obviously don't want you to listen to you or let you help. They will get mad at first, but it's better if everyone is safe, and no one gets hurt or hurts someone else. Sometimes it's actually a relief when things come out in the open and people realize there is help available to them, and there's nothing to be ashamed of.

Answer 3

An adult can be forced into a facility mental health treatment center unless they are demed a 5150, a damnger to themselves or others. They must be physically a danger at that time it can not be that some one says two weeks ago they said they woanted to kill themselves and then they seem fine. This really said, but true. If they do finf that they are an immediate danger to themselves they can place the person in a mental health facility and keep them on a hold for 72 hours after that they do have the choice to leave if they want to.
The other option you may have which I don't really advise unless you have to is to contact your local child protective services. If there are children in the house that may be at risk or are exposed to these problems they can step in and make sure that the children are safe and will send the parent to whatever treatment they need and require for the child's safety.

Answer 4

This is a very difficult question to answer because the laws for involuntary commitment vary from state to state. I don't know what state you live in or even what country you are in.

My advice to you is to be very careful in your personal assessment of an others mental health because diagnosis by a non-professional is usually wrong. In many states you can only commit a person if you can prove they are a danger to themselves or another. The first step in any case is to educate yourself about what symptoms constitutes mental illness for the behavior the person is exhibiting. Some behaviors are merely extremely eccentric and not necessarily a sign of any mental illness.

I would suggest calling a doctor (family GP) first and describing the situation and symptoms. He/she can tell you whether your fears are well founded and how to get the person help. Whatever you do avoid alienating the person because that might bring on some real troublesome behavior. It is best to be honest with him/her.

I hope this helps, good luck, good health, peace and love!

Answer 5

If you can gain your relative's trust and take him/her to a psychiatric emergency room for evaluation that is what you must do. Just provide comfort and reassurance and let him/her know that you care. The mental health professionals at the ER will interview your relative and determine what kind of care s/he needs. If s/he is a danger to self or others, or gravely disabled (unable to care for self) they can be admitted against their will for a limited time. Good luck with this. Know that if your relative really does not want to go and is going to be kept against his/her will, s/he may harbor some resentments toward you. Hopefully, s/he will regain some insight and thank you for your kind help in the future. Good luck, this is a difficult situation. Take care of yourself too.

Answer 6

depending on where you live i am going to suggest that you either if you think this person is a danger to theirself or others to call the police and have this person put in a mental health facility involuntary or if this person is willing to go in voluntary to take this person to the nearest mental health facility for treatment IF YOU DO NOT THINK THIS PERSON WILL STAY IN FOR TREATMENT THEN HAVE THE POLICE TAKE THIS PERSON IN INVOLUNTARY! Please email me if you have any further questions or need some more help if you let me know what city and state you live in i could try to find someplace for this person!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 7

Unless you can talk them into seeing a therapist, there is little you can do. It is up to the individual to admit he/she needs help. Be patient and understanding and stand by for the fall. Good luck!