Advice on telling Dr's about overdose

BLUEBIE

Hi

Wonder if anyone can help? If you go to the Drs to be treated for depression and you tell them you have tried to take an overdose in the past 12 months, will they necessarily tell social services if you have children? They have been treated for depression in the past by the same Dr's.

Also if anyone has been in this position what do the Dr's do?

Thanks


b

Ames

I don't know whether or not they would, but even if they did would it be such a bad thing? They're not going to steam in and take away the kids, but come in and offer help and support. SS aren't nasty monsters and certainly in kids services I think they've got an undeservedly bad reputation.

merlin68

My friend lost her 15 year old into care by taking an overdose and getting admitted. Obviously it's not a nice thing for the children to find, what if you done it when they was there and it went wrong? How old are the kids?

fannyanna

merlin68 wrote: »

My friend lost her 15 year old into care by taking an overdose and getting admitted. Obviously it's not a nice thing for the children to find, what if you done it when they was there and it went wrong? How old are the kids?

Was your friend a lone parent?

I can maybe understand them taking action where a lone parent is clearly struggling but if there's another parent at home to safe guard the childrens wellbeing it might be different.

I hope your friend is a bit better now.

Lotus-eater

BLUEBIE wrote: »

Hi

Wonder if anyone can help? If you go to the Drs to be treated for depression and you tell them you have tried to take an overdose in the past 12 months, will they necessarily tell social services if you have children? They have been treated for depression in the past by the same Dr's.

Also if anyone has been in this position what do the Dr's do?

Thanks


b

Shouldn't the question be more, what's better for the kids, finding their Mum dead after an overdose, or getting them taken away?

Is she liable to have another go, how serious was it? A proper go, or a cry for help?

There are lots of questions, none which the initial question gives answers to.

Should she tell the doctor, yes. So she gets the proper help she obviously needs. How on earth did the doctor not know she tied to commit suicide anyway?

brians_daughter

BLUEBIE wrote: »

Hi

Wonder if anyone can help? If you go to the Drs to be treated for depression and you tell them you have tried to take an overdose in the past 12 months, will they necessarily tell social services if you have children? They have been treated for depression in the past by the same Dr's.

Also if anyone has been in this position what do the Dr's do?

Thanks


b

If the person was treated in hospital the GP would know anyway as the hospital would have prob written to GP?

If you need help then yes do tell the GP. SS are also there to upport and guide, not just remove children from loving parents who are srtuggling. I work with ppl who have/do have depression and sometime SS are involved due to an OD and families, sometimes they arent....but its not all bad news, its about introducing coping mechanisms and gaining access to services and people who can help you

BLUEBIE

Its the father,not their mother. Yes mum is at home too.

Its been twice in the last 12 months, both times with painkillers, both unsuccessful, which is why the Dr's don't know. The first time he was very very lucky, the last time it wasn't so serious, 2 tablets taken about 6ish then 6 more about 10ish. whereas the first time it was a massive jumble of tablets.

More as a cry for help I think, he has depression and I think its just the way his brain works, where as its something I would never do so its hard for me to get my head round it.

fluffnutter

10% of people are thought to suffer with depression. 10% of people don't lose their children. Mental illness per se is no barrier to being a loving and successful parent, provided a support mechanism's in place for the whole family.

A doctor has a duty of care to inform SS if he thinks children are at risk. Having a patient admit to suicidal thoughts and a failed attempt is potentially a million miles away from any child being at risk. What's more of a danger is that the depressed parent doesn't get the help they need. Personally I'm in favour of full disclosure of everything to a GP. It's makes appropriate treatment much easier.

Lotus-eater

BLUEBIE wrote: »

Its the father,not their mother. Yes mum is at home too.

Its been twice in the last 12 months, both times with painkillers, both unsuccessful, which is why the Dr's don't know. The first time he was very very lucky, the last time it wasn't so serious, 2 tablets taken about 6ish then 6 more about 10ish. whereas the first time it was a massive jumble of tablets.

More as a cry for help I think, he has depression and I think its just the way his brain works, where as its something I would never do so its hard for me to get my head round it.

If he'd have been taken to hospital to get his stomach pumped, then it should be on his records.
So if he didn't go to hospital, then it wasn't that serious.

He should obviously tell his doctor, whether he will or not...

fluffnutter

BLUEBIE wrote: »

Its the father,not their mother. Yes mum is at home too.

Its been twice in the last 12 months, both times with painkillers, both unsuccessful, which is why the Dr's don't know. The first time he was very very lucky, the last time it wasn't so serious, 2 tablets taken about 6ish then 6 more about 10ish. whereas the first time it was a massive jumble of tablets.

More as a cry for help I think, he has depression and I think its just the way his brain works, where as its something I would never do so its hard for me to get my head round it.

Based on the (admittedly scant) information here, there's no reason to feel that the children are in any danger from either of their parents. It becomes more of a problem I guess if the suicidal parent is a lone parent but this isn't the case here.

The most important thing is that this poor guy gets the help and support he needs. I think he (or his wife or whomever's worrying) needs to put all anxious thoughts about SS from their minds and feel confident about being open and honest with the GP.

Lotus-eater

fluffnutter wrote: »

What's more of a danger is that the depressed parent doesn't get the help they need. Personally I'm in favour of full disclosure of everything to a GP. It's makes appropriate treatment much easier.

This is precisly right.

If you admit to real feelings of wanting to OD, or you admit to trying, then things change and you get treated differently.

The most incessant question that is asked. Is have you ever thought about harming yourself. Because they need to know.
A no answer will mean you aren't taken as being as bad as a Yes answer and you won't get the help you need.