Urgent help/advice with mental health issue.

[Marklr]

I doubt there would be any point.
We have an elderly relative with dementia we have POA for. We have been concerned about her wandering off and all the GP said was nothing we can do until there is an incident!

It can depend on the GP...some will help more.

 

[Summerbuzz]

I have a friend who is suffering with schizophrenia/psychosis. He is in a really bad way and he is unwilling to even entertain he has a problem. We are trying to get help from the mental health services. The lot of thenlm are just fobbing us off and saying until something happens or he does something, then they can't help.
One of them has just told me to go to his GP and get them to refer him to mental health services.
My mate really needs help. He needs sectioning and assessing urgently, but none the services are interested in helping. I just keep getting passed on to another service and I am going round in circles.
If anyone has any advice or can help, please PM me. I am happy to give more information via pm.
We really are getting desperate now and it is absolutely devastating having to watch someone's downfall and not being able to do anything about it.

Yeah, mostly the Mental Health teams will only take a referral from a GP. The police can also demand someone is assessed immediately, and also authorise a very short term sectioning but doctors are often very resistant to this.

The GP really seems to be the key. He is currently 'their' patient. If I needed referring to crisis team, I would speak to my GP and demand it, say I feared for my own safety (or that of another).

Writing to the GP outlining the problem signs is indeed a very good idea but in the short term, calling them and asking to speak urgently about their patient is the obvious move - then you need to be patient.

Another move is to take him to a mental health hospital and ask to speak to a clinician for an urgent assessment.

I'd also call MIND, in this situation, for their advice.

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

Call the Early Intervention Team if not already, and especially don't follow advise on bluemoon, which negates the first point.

The job of the Crisis Team is to stop him being hospitalised/sectioned, and from what you have said there is zero to suggest such drastic intervention or getting him arrested is warranted.

Most importantly, don't take advice from bluemoon.

Has to be post of the year.
Offers advice and then says don't take advice from blue moon!

 

[Phil1]

Has to be post of the year.
Offers advice and then says don't take advice from blue moon!

Genuinely shocked that Corky is still around seeing as he seems to hate everything and everyone on here!!
Anyway, good luck to the OP, hope you do find the answers you're looking for even if they come from the reprobates that inhabit this place.

 

[Corky]

Has to be post of the year.
Offers advice and then says don't take advice from blue moon!

Ironic warning and disclaimer.

 

[Mr Kobayashi]

The GP really seems to be the key. He is currently 'their' patient. If I needed referring to crisis team, I would speak to my GP and demand it, say I feared for my own safety (or that of another).

If you did that you probably wouldn't meet the criteria to be sectioned.

If the OP's mate can get help outside of being detained it would be better for him anyway.

It’s not exactly a therapeutic environment to be locked up with other people who are mentally ill.

 

[melrose40yarder]

Unfortunately the police are your best bet.
They can demand a sectioning if in thier opinion he is an immediate thread.

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

Unfortunately the police are your best bet.
They can demand a sectioning if in thier opinion he is an immediate thread.

This is an immediate thread!

 

[Kirkstall Blue]

There are two numbers near the top of the page you can phone one is talkclub .org the other is Samaritans, they might be able to point you in the right direction.
Our doctors has a notice up because of Covid no face to face consultations hope yours might be different
They will phone you though, the other option is to say it’s urgent.

 

[Asa's Heart]

The authorities are very reluctant to section people.
Not least because they then become responsible for the entire care costs of the individual.

The authorities are reluctant to section people because it’s a deprivation of liberty issue and seen as draconian. Most mental health issues are treated in the community because they can be. Mental health assessments and treatment start at the GP or A & E. That is the front access point and why the OP is probably being guided there but feeling fobbed off. It’s frightening when a friend or loved one manifests bizarre behaviours and for most people who don’t understand the system they often feel that sectioning is the appropriate response. It very rarely is and there are legal issues to consider as well as health. I hope your friend is able to access what he needs OP. He has more than some, in having a friend that cares as much as you do.