Mental health care rant.

[JeffinNZ]

It has come to our attention recent that one of our neighbours is very unwell mentally. She is a really nice lady with a really ugly past. My wife is a registered nurse and we (fellow neighours also) have been looking out for the lady in need. Yesterday prior to me leaving for work she arrived on my doorstep with her car key asking me to take them in case she did something 'silly'. Previously she had another friend remove all her sharp knives and some rope. Yes, scary stuff. I comforted her and IMMEDIATELY called my wife at work to contact the acute mental health serivces. The lady is supposed to have a daily nurse visit but yesterday NO ONE arrived. We kept an eye on her all day in conjunction with another person then last evening I took her some flowers from my garden and chatted with her. She was marginally better.

I was furious that the health service did squat. We don't mind looking out for her but she is VERY unwell and we can't be everywhere. The lady is seeing a specialist today but moving forward it is a bad situation. Suffice to say we will stay very close to her.

I have had my times with depression so, to a limited degree, know where she is at. It ain't pretty but you do get through.

[Olevern]

Jeff,
you and your wife are to be commended for looking out for your neighbor. The bible (and Jesus)commands this of us.
Bureaucracy (should be bureaucrazy) fails often and the squeaky wheel (sometimes) gets the oil. Keep on them to do the right thing.

[Wayne Smith]

Is she on meds? If she is newly on an antidepressant she should be on suicide watch, some of them in some people increase the likeliness of suicide. It has also been known since before I was in grad school that when one begins an antidepressant the energy returns before the mood increases. The result of this combination is increased suicidal attempts as the meds start working. Once they are well established and the mood increases the worry reduces greatly.

These effects are often overlooked in the system. Doctors and nurses are vastly overworked and can't think of everything every time. I try to remind clients and/or their family about this. Sometimes I forget too, with all of the other issues to address.

Thank you for being there for her. One thing I told a new to me Bipolar client, with eight previous hospitalizations and multiple bright red scars from his most recent attempt. First time I met him I told him: " It is not my job to hospitalize you, you know more about that than I do. It is not my job to kep you alive, you know that, if you are determined to kill yourself you will. It is my job to try to give you more reasons to live."

Don't hold yourselves responsible for more than what you can actually do. You can't keep her alive, but you may give her some reasons to keep herself alive. Love acted out tends to do that.

[41 mag fan]

Very well said Wayne Smith.
I understand the depression and suicidal thoughts and all.
I've tried Chantix twice now to quit smoking, 2 yrs apart. The first time it sent me into a depression I didn't realize I was in. Then it started with visions of going into the gun room shutting the door and sitting in my computer chair, loading the 480 Ruger and putting it under my chin. I disregarded all this happening and the visions until I started having dreams of committing suicide. But it was so surreal and calming thinking of doing this. It really threw me a loop and I knew I had to get off the Chantix.

I told my wife about what was going on, this started my 6th week on it, and it was the 7th week i told her. She kept me on constant watch, one eye open at night, till i got the chantix out of my system.

I tried it again though, this past June, and the same thoughts and depression came back on the 4th day of taking it. This time I knew what was happening and got off of it and will never try it again.

Jeff what you and your wife is doing is very commendable. Please keep helping her and watching over her, as she needs you and your wife in her life to make it thru these tough and dark times she's having

[WILCO]

Why are you expecting the government to do anything? Good job on looking out for her, but where's her family?

[firefly1957]

Wilco he is in New Zealand they have government health care as we soon will.

Jeff it is good that you can help take care and be safe.

[WILCO]

Wilco he is in New Zealand they have government health care as we soon will.



Yeah, I know that. My point was why be surprised or expect anything else than what he's dealing with?

[JeffinNZ]

Thanks Wayne. Roger all that.

Wilco: yes, I do expect the health system to do something becauses it their JOB. I have no problem with our health system (other than I pay tax and have insurance {as a safety net}...) providing those who operate within it do what they are supposed to.

[Dean D.]

I salute you Jeff. We should all be so fortunate as to have such kind and thoughtful neighbors. Best wishes and God Bless.

[btroj]

In a situation like that in the US I would have contacted law enforcement. I would tell them she was potentially suicidal and asked them to hep get her to an appropriate facility.

She needs help. Probably should be inpatient until things stabilize.

This is the problem with mental health. It is so difficult to recognize all the signs until it may be too late.

As for why the state health worker didn't come out, I can't answer that. If your government workers are like ours they can't be fired and all too often don't care.

[blackthorn]

Jeff---I know exactly how you feel!! In the early 1980's I had a cousin who was Manic depressive. We usually could not get him to seek treatment but he was on meds and as long as he took them everything was fine. One day while I was out of town at work, he phoned my wife and said he couldn't deal with his problems anymore and was going to check himself into the hospital. That's waht he did and the idiots kept him in overnight and released him. He went home and shot himself! A POX on them!!!

41 mag fan---Try acupuncture for quitting smoking. My son and his wife did that over a year ago and they are both still off smoking.

[square butte]

I have just gone through a nightmare - getting my mentally ill brother (paranoid schizophrenia) into assisted living. He is 63 years old - ill since 20. Words simply cannot do justice to the h*#ll we suffered in the last few months - Not to mention the last 43 years. Maybe sometime i'll be able to say more.

[JeffinNZ]

Just went to check on her. She wasn't there then arrived in a car with her friend and our other neighbour. She had been 'lost' in the middle of the local park. In pretty bad shape but help is on hand.

[smokemjoe]

I pray for her. Joe

[JeffinNZ]

Seeing some improvements in her today and got to speak with the male nurse that calls on her. I think things are on the up but time will tell.