Help for a person who doesn't want it

wendym

When I was concerned about the mental and physical well-being of my elderly neighbour I rang his GP, and said that I didn't know where else to ask for advice, and that I really feared for his safety.

The following day, a nurse from the practice visited him, and eventually he was put back on his feet (literally and metaphorically) enough to move into a nursing home.

So a GP can act in these circumstances.

I do feel for you.

kathy206

Hi
Firstly I empathise with your situation. Our family have had something similar to this with someone close. It's taken years for them to realise how unwell they really were at their worst. (Not want you want to hear I know) Your sister can be seen by your mum's GP as a temp resident.(think this has been mentioned earlier) however if you try and get her to the surgery under false pretences then you run the risk of further paranoia/resistance/isolation/resentment. Would the GP do a home visit if you explained the situation? My advice is to keep on and on at the GP to get her seen asap,and if appropriate, referral to the CMHT for follow up and support.If she does attempt suicide/self harm, or is a risk to herself or others then she can be assessed in the local casualty department (place of safety)under the Mental Health Act once she is deemed medically stable.If she becomes violent then call the police,(sounds harsh,I know) they too have powers under the Mental Health Act(last resort as already mentioned) I work for an out of hours Gp Service as a nurse practitioner and we get a lot of calls from relatives who are worried about their loved one's mental health,and would like them to be assessed by a GP. so that is an option if your sister is showing signs of deteriorating any further, out of GP surgery times and she'll possibly be referred to the crisis intervention team. I hope you can get some help for her, you sound a really caring sister. My very best wishes, and good luck, Kathyxx

ailuro2

http://www.mentalhealthcare.org.uk/content/?id=21

ask for a Home visit from your Mother's GP, and do it now. The sooner she gets some help the sooner she will be well enough to perhaps realise she has an illness.

Margaret54

Hi i am so sorry to read about what is happening. I agree with ailuro2. that is exactly what i was about to say. I too have had mental illness in the family with my late Dad, oh a long long time ago now and then he died 3 years later due to health problems. It was so sad to watch. This was a man who had never had a days sickness in his life, and always worked. He was unaware he was ill but he was doing strange things at home and my Mum took him to the g.p as if she was going for herself, and he spoke with my Dad and he ended up in a mental hospital and we were up to visit him all the time, and i have a real compassion for anyone dealing with mental illness and it is a great cross to bear for the family as well. I wish you well Take good care. xxxx

Errata

The only suggestion I can make is that if you feel your sister is at risk of harming herself or harming someone else, you must speak to someone - your GP, local mental health unit, community mental health team, social services.

From what you write, your sister has already told your mother she has already tried to harm herself by taking an overdose twice. This situation is serious and if you explain she is already harming herself, notice will be taken of your concerns. Are you concerned about your mother's safety? If you are not entirely confident that your mother will not be harmed then it would be wise to mention that also. HTH

anonymousie

bl**dy tricky situation!

Sectioning/forcing treatment and asessment TBH will be pretty difficult unless there is serious evidenxe of risk to self or others.

GPs are limitied by confidentiality- even a mentallly ill person has a right to that so they will listen to your worries but may not tell you anything in return other than "I will bear it in mind".

You can ask for a home visit, but on what grounds would the GP go- "your rellie tells me you are barking mad" :rotfl: I don't think so! If she is paranoid she wont open the door to any "we haven't seen you and wonderd if you were OK " stuff...

Fast track access to MH health asessment, as I understand it can be via casualty in case of self harm (if you can get here there they can get psych input) or if she harms or threatens someone else the police can pick her up and have powers to detain as and emergency for asessment- so the moment she reacts badly to what you/other say and thumps (or even pokes them or threatens violence) then the police would (hopefully) be interested.