Mental illness

Jadey thank you for your comment. In fact I'm certain that you have communicated with someone on GN who has, or has had, mental illness issues. There's me for instance.
I spent (I think - it was a very muddled time) about a year on anti-depressants, and yes, depression is a mental illness. Even if the usual statistic of one in four (people suffering from a mental illness) is over-hyped I think it's true that a great many people will suffer from some form of mental illness during their lifetime. Agoraphobia (and other phobias), OCD, depression, bipolar, anxiety disorder, post-natal depression.......these are the 'hidden' illnesses that still continue to be stigmatized and yet are actually prevalent throughout our society. Schizophrenia and psychosis are rarer forms of mental illness, but seem to generate a disproportionate amount of coverage from the media; sadly this is mostly due to actions taken by mentally ill people when treatment (for whatever reason) is inadequate.

grannyactivist I would not say that I have communicated with anyone on Gransnet that has Mental llness issues themselves x

Maybe things are way too lapse on this section thing thinking of the woman in news who had killed her mother and pleaded to be sectioned was ignored and went and killed again she had begged for help!

I too have been clinically depressed on different aspect of mental health it is awful I had severe post natal depression and about 3more bouts over my lifetime.

I would not wish it on anyone eventually anti depressants kick in when suitable ones found but is a long haul.

There is still stigma to any health problem like this.

Sadly some people are danger to others and this should be more swiftly dealt with.

I am no talking about depression but real psychotic behavhiour which leads to these awful tragedies.

Maybe too many hospitals were closed?

I have real sympathy for those who have relatives who have serious mental health problems and the emotional pull this has for them. But I would like to discuss people who are not quite as ill as that. If I can help-

I have been through dark holes in the past with depression and come out of the other side. I would like to give my experiences in hind sight to help anyone going through difficult times. Firstly try not to think you are mentally ill -there maybe other physical problems causing your problem (even if you having social problems, you would deal with the social problems if you were physically well), In my case, both times when I have been in the dark spots, there have been physical problems -one after child-birth- the other un-diagnosed Lupus. The effects of child birth and no family support being one- the other was Lupus which is a terrible illness that is difficult to diagnose, so for a long time every one was regarding me as depressed, weak and unfortunately mental. Once the illness was eventually diagnosed and treated I and my family were able to understand what was happening.

Maybe you may not have Lupus- But if you have emotional problems please look into whether you have some other physical problem. GP's don't always know and can only go by what you say to them at times.

There are still people who think I was mental, although I wasn't- but the way I deal with it is to enjoy my hobbies and say to myself -so what !! To those people that have been nasty about it in the past - I avoid- they're just not worth it.

GA sorry, only just found this thread. You have been in the emotional wars!
I can't think of anything I can do, but if you think I can, let me know!
It does sound as though he should be eligible for DLA under the 'continuous supervision' provision which would entitle his carer to careers allowance.

Best wishes to you, ga, you really do deserve a medal for your persistence and your care.

As I suspected might be the case, the man believed to be responsible for the killing of Christina Edkins has just been sectioned. I await the outcome with interest and quiet desperation. Once again it seems that lives have been ruined because of inadequate mental health services.
My own relative has not yet been sectioned, but the psychiatrist has agreed to give a warning if he believes lives are in imminent danger!

ga sending you wishes for a restful night after your stressful time as well as thanks for finding time to think of me

'They come not single spies, but in battalions,' GA. I hope you have the armoury to withstand all these troubles that beset you. But you do have that not so secret weapon, the WM.

Heard that relative kept his appointment with the psychiatrist this morning, but no news regarding the outcome. The frustration is driving me nuts.....honestly, if he hasn't been detained this time then I'm seriously going to make dramatic waves!!!

As for sitting down....just got three year old grandson into bed after a bout of diarrhoea that managed to get everywhere!!! My lovely 21 year old did 'clean up' duty and the Wonderful Man took over bath-time and dinner. Phew, now sitting down with a .

Crumbs GA you certainly have got a lot on! Any chance of sitting down with a nice glass of something and putting your feet up tonight?

ga

My goodness ga you certainly fit that old adage if you want somehing doing, ask a busy woman!

It sounds like there's some light the end of the tunnel with mental health services today. I do hope it continues. You deserve a break after all your efforts xx

Moved I slept like a baby last night, I was so exhausted that I slept better than I have in ages - so there was a little silver cloud. Unfortunately my two foster sons were also in the middle of a crisis and needed shoring up; their older brother (who is only 18) has been like a parent to them and he was rushed into hospital on Monday night with appendicitis. He's had the operation and is now out of hospital, but the boys have been very anxious and have needed a lot of reassurance, at a time when they're supposed to be revising for exams.
Hopefully things will be back to normal today - I've got my three year old grandson coming to stay for a few days to give his mum a bit of a break as she's struggling to entertain him AND cope with her new baby.
But for now I'm waiting for the phone to ring to find out whether my relative has been sectioned or not.............

GA can you get some rest now? I admire your persistence, so often we have to keep at it and insist when it should be obvious to everyone what is necessary. I do so hope that the outcome is good.

Well done for your persistence.

What a relief for you grannyactivist. I'm so glad it worked out for you in the end, fingers crossed for a sensible outcome. I like to think that AMHPs can usually be relied upon to take the safest option

Spent all of yesterday trying to get help for relative and eventually got a warrant, police and Approved Mental Health Worker lined up to pick him up - only for them to find he had decamped from the address he was staying at. He was reported as a missing vulnerable adult and the police searched for him in his home town, where he was eventually found. He has an appointment with his psychiatrist right now and I hope he will soon be on his way to hospital - although there are no NHS beds available in his nearest three counties and so he will have to go to the Priory clinic in Bristol! If they still have the bed that was free yesterday available.
I have no faith in the mental health services at all, but yesterday I came across two AMHW's who were brilliant and want to give credit where it's due. I know the service is cut to the bone and it must be a nightmare to have to work within the legal constraints and with very limited resources, but so often the people I contact are 'jobsworths' that it was wonderful to meet two obviously dedicated professionals.

They are wrong about that grannyactivist. It would make no sense if people could never be assessed away from their own place of residence. When people are acutely unwell they often move around quite randomly. I have regularly assessed people from a different county (and even a different country) and AMHPs have a duty to consider an assessment of anyone in need presenting in their area. The person can then be admitted to a local hospital and transferred later. There's not much you can do if the local team persist in giving you incorrect information. I'm so sorry you are having this worry.

Did exactly that tonight nightowl. The problem is that M is currently away from his home county and we were told that the application must be made 'where the patient lives'; I checked the MH Act and they're correct. The consultant from M's town had already informed the local MH team of his own concerns earlier in the evening, but apparently that's not enough to warrant intervention.

grannyactivist have you considered contacting the out of hours social work team and requesting a Mental Health Act assessment? Once they were aware of the situation they would be duty bound to at least look into the circumstances.

Since 6pm tonight the family have spoken to the police and local mental health team - all saying they are powerless unless they actually see M acting aggressively/or unless he harms himself or another. M actually explained to the police officers this evening about the various plots to kill him; people following him; the coming of world war three in which only Cornwall will survive etc. etc. - obviously and unequivocally demonstrating that he's totally paranoid - and still they, quite accurately as the law stands, say there is nothing they can do. M's consultant (in a different county) contacted the local mental health team and expressed his concerns to them, but they say no-one has been harmed so there is no emergency. In order to ensure his safety the relative M has been staying with was escorted from his own property by the police because M is staying there. They could have asked M to leave, but that would have left him wandering the streets, which in his current condition may well have led to someone being hurt.

The police were very kind and spent over an hour with us, explaining the limits of their powers in this situation. They could only advise us to dial 999 when M is actually being aggressive and if they see it for themselves they might be able to take action.

When I said I feel like Alice down the rabbit hole they sympathised!!!! Past being !

I do hope so Ga, fingers crossed.

Thinking of you grannyactivist hope you get this sorted quickly.