Can they really do this?

Question

I found out recently that my aunt is trying to talk my dad in to having me commited to a mental institute....but I am 19..so can they?? They are only doing it because first of all...she is a major B*TCH...and second because they found out I have a pretty bad cutting problem...but I am worried..can they really have me commited??

There is really nothing else to the story...they just found out, but I have been cutting for a year and a half...so it is no big deal..I think my sister seen all of my cuts, I think that is what started it all...I have scars and stuff on my arm, but some how she seen my stomach (which is/was covered)

Answer 1

But sweetheart...cutting yourself IS a big deal. You are hurting yourself. That means something is really, really bothering you. Cutting yourself is not going to solve whatever is bothering you.

You need some professional help. Have you talked to a therapist yet? I suggest you get to one as fast as you can!

FYI, "mental institute" is not what you might think. It's not like The Olden Days. My teen has severe bipolar disorder, and he had to go to 2 of them because he was hallucinating and trying to jump out a window. The one place only had 5 teens there. It was a small ward at a normal hospital. He stayed 3 days. The 2nd place, last summer, was bigger but it looked like a cross between a hotel and a dormatory. It was fine, just kind of plain looking. He went there so they could get his medications sorted out. He had therapy every day. After 11 days he came home feeling so much better.

He is like a normal person now and lives a good life every single day (but still has to take meds. Which is fine.) The worst things he had to say about going In-Patient was, "It was really boring and I didn't like the food."

Answer 2

If you're in the USA, you can be committed against your will and after seventy-two hours of psychiatric evaluation you are released. States may have different laws that these, but here is the standard procedure:
In order to send you to the hospital the doctor must certify three things:
1). You are mentally ill. This means that you have a mental or emotional condition which substantially limits your ability to function;
2). Either you are dangerous to yourself or others - this means that there is substantial risk that you will physically harm yourself or someone else) or you are "gravely disabled" - this means that you are in danger of serious harm because you cannot provide for your basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, or safety because of mental illness;
3). You need immediate treatment for mental illness

Anyone else who thinks you need immediate treatment, such as your family or friends, may apply to the probate court. The probate judge may then order the police to bring you before the judge to determine whether you should be examined by a doctor. When an emergency certificate is issued, a hospital may keep you for treatment against your will for up to 15 days. The hospital must release you after fifteen days unless an application for civil commitment has been filed with the probate court. If a civil commitment application has been filed, the hospital may keep you for up to 15 more days until the civil commitment hearing is held in probate court.

Answer 3

Your aunt is probably very concern for you.Young people don't realise this, adults see things differently. In Australia it can be done by court order, but depending on the seriousness of the problem, Or you go to a doctor to seek help.

Answer 4

If you are deemed an immediate danger to yourself or others, you can be involuntarily commited to a psychiatric ward. If the commitment is involuntary, there will be a hearing w/in 48 hours to see if they can hold you up to 30 days.

Good luck and take care of you!
Dee

Answer 5

Well, you ARE harming yourself! Your relatives are just looking out for your safety. I think you need a little help. Try asking them to find a therapist for you to talk to. A mental institution is a little extreme- unless there is more to the story that you're not telling us. Take care of yourself.

Answer 6

One way or another, your going to need to see someone. It seems like you have alot of unresolved issues, or something tramatic happened in your life that you never got over. By the way, cutting is a big deal.

Answer 7

umm if they can that's ridiculous. you should be able to do what you want with your life. i mean cutting is a problem, but they shouldn't be able to MAKE you go to a mental institution when you're not hurting anyone but yourself. i'm really sorry! you shoudl talk to them and tell them that you want to get better but on YOUR OWN, and that by sending you away it makes you feel like they don't want to deal with you and you know that working this out on your own would be better for you and everyone else and that it would last longer.good luck!

Answer 8

yes. age does not matter. you will be evaluated and probably won't stay more than up to 30 days. It takes a lot or work to commit someone, though. most people don't want to go to the trouble.

Answer 9

Yep. So, if you want to take matters in your own hands, you may want to voluntarily seek the help of a professional and get some treatment. Otherwise, you may find yourself in a situation that you will not be particularly fond of.

Answer 10

Yes they can put you in for 72 hours with out your consent. All it takes is two relatives signatures. You do need to at least get therapy. My best friend had the same problem in high school her parents sent her to a facility where she did group therapy, rode horses, went swimming,and had one on one therapy. I know sounds like torture doesn't it.