To think my nurse shouldn't have reported me to social services

[calmday]

Hi, I suffer from mental health problems. I've recently come off all my prescription medication. I bought some of the natural supplement 5 HTP to use to help my anxiety and low mood. When my CPN found out I'm taking this she reported me to the social work. So they're coming to see me soon. AIBU?

Why coin?

Because unless she presented as unstable or was a suicide risk I don't believe it was the nurses place.

Well done OP that sounds like a really sensible and positive step. I wish you every success on your recovery

Coin there was previous SS involvement, plus the OP's partner had told the nurse that OP was trying to 'get high' from the supplements. Nurse has a duty to report- end of. Those comments are unhelpful.

OP is back on antipsychotics so clearly is in need of them.

Because unless she presented as unstable or was a suicide risk I don't believe it was the nurses place.

Yeah I've had SS involvement before, because I was so mentally unwell that they were worried I couldn't look after my children. My partner told my CPN that the only reason I took 5 HTP was to get high (I have a history of hypomania). So there are concerns of how I'm acting around the children.

I think the OPs post above means the nurse had a duty to report.

If she's been in them previously of course they will put her back on them just like that. It doesn't mean she was wrong or putting herself at risk trying natural methods.

Coin you have no idea how she presented. I think it's very likely the OP did present as unstable. Without being on her meds it would be much harder for the OP to judge her stability for herself that's why MH is so hard sometimes because it makes you work against yourself.

Its not just a risk to her though Coin there are children involved.

If she's been in them previously of course they will put her back on them just like that. It doesn't mean she was wrong or putting herself at risk trying natural methods

Where did you do your qualification in psychiatry then? There has clearly been prior and legitimate intervention plus a report from the OP's DH, raising concern about the supplements. But you think the nurse should sit on her arse and do nothing?

You do know that a report to SS is to get additional support and services to help children in need, right?

Coin natural methods might work well for mild forms of MH issues but for serious illness you need proper medical support and to follow the advice of the MH professionals supporting you. It is always dangerous to stop your medication against these professionals advice. If natural methods actually had any real efficiency they would be used already.

The nurses place? Of course it was. OP suddenly stopped taking anti-psychotic medication. You aren't prescribed this for no reason. She has children. My husband is asthmatic so needs inhalers to function - if he stopped taking them he would have an asthma attack. The same is true of anti-psychotics - suddenly stop taking them and the OP could become psychotic - posing a potential risk to themselves and their children. Of course the nurse done the right thing, if something had happened to OP and or their children and it was revealed she knew her patient had stopped taking her medication there would be an outcry.

I don't have a degree in psychiatry but after almost a year break in taking antipsychotics I walked into my gp surgery and said I was feeling low and not sleeping and walked out with a script for them again.

I have also been reported to the police and ss by a nurse. So I am biased. I also don't like ss and believe patient confidentiality comes above everything else.

Really coin. You can't see an issue with someone not taking their mental health medication?

Flip side. Sally Blogs has had involvement from social services before about her children's wellbeing. Sally has a mental health issue. She decides that she's seen a natural remedy on her mate's MLM facebook page. When speaking to a medical professional she mentions that this natueal remedy is going to be much better at managing her illness.

The medical professional respects Sally's choice because she seemed to be in a good state of mind and after all it is her choice how she wishes to medicate.

All is pretty good for a few daya and Sally takes this as proof that her new natural remedy is working and she didn't need her prescriptions. She's a little more lethargic than usual so will often sleep whilst her young children are playing she leaves the child gates open so they can get her if there's any issues and sometimes they don't get well fed during the day because sally isn't feeling well.

Sally's mental health deteriorates one day and she physically harms her children / one day when sally is feeling under the weather a child falls down the stairs.

There's an investigation and the questions are asked 'how could someone with known mental health issues slip through the net? Why wasn't someone checking her medication? How was a child able to be harmed? Why weren't the professionals safeguarding the children?'

Coin suddenly stopping a drug like Olanzapine does mean she was putting herself at risk I'm afraid .

So I am biased. I also don't like ss and believe patient confidentiality comes above everything else

It does, but not over the welfare and safety of young children. Can you not see this? You weren't there so have no clue how the OP was presenting but many people with MH present as very unstable but believe that they are completely fine. The nurse is a professional and has duties to report this kind of thing.

She is on the same type of medication I am on. It's not dangerous to stop it at all you just have to ride out the withdrawals.

So I am biased. I also don't like ss
That in itself would ring alarm bells for me.
The only people I've ever come across who don't like social services are people where social services involvement was clearly needed.

Of course it's dangerous to suddenly stop it - she could have became psychotic again....do you really not see that Coin?

It's not dangerous to stop it at all you just have to ride out the withdrawals

It's not dangerous to stop it at all you just have to ride out the withdrawals*

But the OPs children and partner will be dragged along fir the ride. Thats not fair or safe for them.

Coin do you really think that patient confidentiality is more important than a child's safety?

@calmday glad to hear you're feeling better. Look after yourself.

Nah. Easy. Just ride out the withdrawals and hope that nothing bad happens. It hasn't happened to me/someone i know/ someone i talk to online so it's fine.
After all, social services just love interfering and patient confidentiality is key so I could tell my GP i'm on crack cocaine and they shouldn't say anything because it's confidential.

Seriously, safeguarding comes before confidentiality. That's why school staff can't promise not to disclose what childreb say.

Someone in the catholic churhc has just been in the news recently saying he wouldn't report abuse disclosed during confession because 'confidentiality'. He was rightly ripped to shreds.

Restless traveler.

Yes I do.