Mental illness

GA, as if you didn't have enough on your plate. I do hope this situation is soon under control. ((((hugs))))

You're right Nellie the police cannot detain someone on a Section 136 from a person's home or garden, as neither of these constitutes a public place. In my experience the Police are generally very good at carrying out this duty if given the right information beforehand. I know that you know the legislation grannyactivist so I'm sure you will handle it appropriately. Good luck, yet again.

That sounds awful granny activist at risk of sounding ignorant what defines psychotic?

Do hope he gets help sap sorry you got this worry.

If someone is experiencing psychosis they may:

feel very anxious or agitated
have very low or high moods
think that people are against them and they may hear voices or sounds that aren't real
some people also have what are called delusions – beliefs about something that isn't true.

www.rethink.org/about_mental_illness/early_intervention/understanding_psychosis/what_is_psychosis.html

Another day...................and we're no further forward. Except I have actually had an unsolicited phone call from M's consultant psychiatrist (that's a first - getting a call from anybody!) and it seems possible that action may be pending, if M returns to his home town soon. Letters of complaint are once more winging their way southwards, but I have little hope of any resultant systemic change. The mental health service doesn't care about carers is the message we receive time and time again. I don't know if M is still local, but doors are locked and phone calls are being screened, just in case. My in-laws so often survive these encounters 'by the skin of their teeth', that I fear one day there will be a catastrophe.

Thanks for the link Minty.

ga big hugs I hope you get some action soon, it sounds horrendous.

GAmy heart goes out to you,I also have a friend whose family is being torn apart by the very same illness that your relative suffers from,she also has very little help ,I have spent all weekend putting together a information pack for her and some very good advice and information by our lovely when.
When googling Mental Health services there are many glossy adverts for mental health services but when you look closer a lot of them are dead ends and the help for all is just a smokescreen a very lonely time for all concerned.
E's father is paranoid schizophrenic.and most of you are aware of the tragic consequences from that.
I really hope that there is some good news and your poor relative,is able to get some help and your family the peace of mind they so clearly need..

Stop press: just had a long phone call from the consultant psychiatrist and HE ACTUALLY LISTENED TO ME AND TOOK MY CONCERNS SERIOUSLY. At last I think someone has heard and is prepared to take action; he's going to speak to my parents in law next and that will be the FIRST time they will have had unsolicited contact from any of the mental health professionals since 2009.

I know I shouldn't get my hopes up, but I'm just going to enjoy this feeling for a while. Somebody is going to do something at last.

Thinking of you grannyactivist hope you get this sorted quickly.

I do hope so Ga, fingers crossed.

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 !

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Well done for your persistence.

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.

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.............

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

ga

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?

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 .