Serious Advice Please - Mental Breakdowns

[Baggy]

This might not be the best place for this so, mods, please feel free to move...

 

[TheDoctor]

I think this means the GP getting some more specialist help involved, which sounds like a good thing.

 

[Muddyfox]

Baggy ... i believe "Refferals" would mean a short stay or assesment at somewhere like the Cedars at the RD&E in Exeter (i believe your local to that area ?) so maybe giving the cedars a ring might throw some light on the procedures for you

Simon

 

[Steve Austin]

If someone is referred to a mental health team by a Dr., then it generally means its for assessment. Sectioning etc would happen quicker than this.
Its likely, depending on the urgency, that they will get an appointment in a few weeks, and depending on assessment whatever will happen will then happen

 

[Kirstie]

I suppose the positive thing is that they've sought help. You can section yourself voluntarily by going to a mental hospital too. However I would have thought that referral in this case would be a referral for a psychiatric assessment and then the treatment would unfold from there.

 

[Wigsie]

If someone is referred to a mental health team by a Dr., then it generally means its for assessment. Sectioning etc would happen quicker than this.
Its likely, depending on the urgency, that they will get an appointment in a few weeks, and depending on assessment whatever will happen will then happen

This is about right, depending on severity the doctors may try and rush an assessment but even with cases where potential self harm are involved this may take a few weeks. After the assessment they will then join the waiting list for psychiatric therapy and again depending on the region this can take months.

I don't want to be gloomy Baggy just realistic. Just keep in subtle contact with the person and never presume they are being looked after as much as they need to be by the NHS!

Fingers crossed and my thoughts are with you and your friend.

 

[Gromit]

Take some time off work, go over and bang on their door until they let you in. Usually if they say not to visit it means they really do need some one around. I mean drop everything and go over now. Its not going to be easy you may be stood outside for hours but just do it. Less time spent on thinking about it the better.

If you know the persons parents etc, tell them what's going on and get them to go round and look after them if they don't know what is happening, even get them to section the person involved.

Believe me if I had taken that action and not listen to anyone else's opinion a few years ago we may still have had our friend around.

 

[Ian H]

From your point of view, the main thing is to make it plain that you're around if needed. You can't do more than that.

 

[Wigsie]

Take some time off work, go over and bang on their door until they let you in. Usually if they say not to visit it means they really do need some one around. I mean drop everything and go over now. Its not going to be easy you may be stood outside for hours but just do it. Less time spent on thinking about it the better.

If you know the persons parents etc, tell them what's going on and get them to go round and look after them if they don't know what is happening, even get them to section the person involved.

Believe me if I had taken that action and not listen to anyone else's opinion a few years ago we may still have had our friend around.

Scratch my advice, this is better.... I just did not want to scare you. My brothers sister in law may still be here now if more had been done, but family both presumed she was being looked after and did not want to nag and pester her as she had been to see the doctors.

 

[scots_lass]

Normally what happens is that the doctor refers them to the local psychiatric unit who will arrange an initial assessment appointment. This will be either with a psychiatrist or another mental health worker depending on the problem. Speed of referral will depend very much on the urgency amd/or local heath care facilities. A treatment plan will then be agreed with the patient for either in- or out-patient care. It would be best if someone close to the patient can accompany them to the assessment appointment.
In the meantime, keep in close contact with your friend. A daily or nightly phonecall at around the same time, just for a chat, can mean all the world to someone who has struggled through yet another interminable day.
I wish your friend all the best and hope he/she has a swift and speedy recovery.

 

[661-Pete]

I can only offer sympathy, not advice. I myself quite often get that way (don't a lot of folks?), perhaps not so badly, with inability to 'get anything done', though maybe things will change. I'll say no more.

Others on this thread: bear in mind that Baggy, whilst (correctly) not saying too much, mentions 'a five hour drive' away. So the person could be anywhere in the country, and references to treatment in Exeter may be irrelevant. There have been other assumptions made which may be wide of the mark.

Hope it works out B.

 

[Gromit]

Your friend should have been given a 24 hour contact number, someone should also be calling them everyday from social services and there is also the option of getting him/her to go to A&E, they then can choose to stay in hospital for a short voluntary stay were and assessment will be done.

I had an adult social worker a year and a half ago who saw me every week for about 3 months.

 

[Happiness Stan]

Do you know if your friend is likely to harm himself or others?

 

[Baggy]

Thanks very much everyone - I don't know the exact ins and out are of what has happened today, but as far as I can be sure, they are not going to harm themselves or others.

Rest assured if I could get up there right this second, I would.

I'm planning to take time off so I can help them out with appointments etc.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

If the correct meds are taken correctly then some improvement should be expected. Often the meds take 2 weeks to begin their work. Thereafter things should improve gradually. Other interventions are of the "talking" kind and things such as CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy) are very useful. It is a long road back but back will happen eventually. All the Best