To ask what you do if someone won't accept their disability

[mannerhouse2]

I am asking for a relative, they have serious mental health problems but think they are fine.

Is there anything that can be done in these Cases?

Have they been diagnosed with anything?

Not formally diagnosed, no, but lots of hcp have been worried and tried.

Unfortunately that's quite common with mental health in that some people lack insight and refuse medication and treatment I was an RMN for long time .

There isn't much you can do. I'd just ignore it too. Sometimes it's a form of attention seeking.

If they are over 16 then there is nothing you can do unless they pose an immanent and obvious danger to themselves or others -and even then not always. Sorry.

The problem is Vivienne they can't work and are homeless. Don't think it's attention seeking.

It's hard when you have a mental health problem, because you think you are 'fine' and everyone else is the 'problem'.

I was finally diagnosed with bipolar officially a year ago, and have been having treatment for 2 years. The reality is all the signs were there from my teens.

I was just awkward, argumentative, kooky, fun, crazy, up for a laugh- the list goes on.

Now I am receiving treatment, I can look back on the past and easily pinpoint episodes. But at the time when I was going through it, everything was either amazing or damn right depressing.

Can I ask what mental health diagnosis they are looking at?

Im sure it's not attention-seeking OP. But it's also true of lots of homeless people. And the services aren't there for those who want to engage, let alone those who don't / can't (even though they are generally the most vulnerable).

If they’re deemed not to have mental capacity then they can be detained and treated.

Mental illness is so prevalent now that there aren’t the resources around to treat people so they’re left to get on with it and make their own - often unwise - decisions.

When you say they are homeless, is that sofa surfing or on the streets?

Both snowy, it just seems like they are left to die. Which can't be right surely.

It's terribly difficult. But they are an adult (I'm assuming) and therefore have autonomy. Unless they're a danger to themselves or others they cannot be forcibly taken in for care. So if they're not a danger, they have to be willing to engage with services.

That said, sometimes they may be willing to accept "non-mental health help" e.g. shelter. Is this person sleeping rough? Or living in a homeless shelter or with a friend etc?

Sorry I realise you just answered that question.

Unfortunately unless they are a danger to themselves or others, or willing to seek and recieve treatment, very little can be done.

It's a crap situation I know. But it's the reality. Mental health resources are so stretched and under resourced.

My friend was like this. And yes, they left him to die as he "wouldn't engage" so he had an awful end of life and we're still not 100% sure how he died - possibly a seizure after alcohol withdrawal 😟

What type of mental health diagnosis do you think if is? Depression, anxiety, bipolar, schizophrenia, OCD etc?

Does he have a learning disability?

Sorry I know I'm asking 100 questions, I'm just trying to think where would be the best place to sign post you.

Yes. People are just left to die. This is the reality of the state of mental health services. Even if the person themselves is trying to get help, not just their friends and relatives.

Yes he's being left to die. No it's not right. Depending on what is going on with him there may be no alternative but that depends on his condition, it's treatability and his willingness to cooperate with treatment once started. And his capacity - you can't just imprison someone and force them to take drugs if they have the capacity to refuse.

You can ask for an assessment of capacity - people with capacity are allowed to make unwise decisions, but if they are considered to lack capacity then social or mental health services may be able to put safeguards in place under the law.

Efrig why do you think mental illness is so prevalent now? It seems to be .... but is it just more obvious/visible/known?

Sorry but there is nothing you can do. Please bear in mind that people have the right to refuse treatment and make their own decisions - only when they are posing a serious danger to themselves or others can they be treated by force.

Awful situation for that person op. Hope you can come up with some options.

I think you can do something if they are endangering their own life or others.

But I don't think being homeless could count in that-I think there's a ridiculous statistic that something like 90% of long term homeless people have some sort of mental health issue, which is really sad.

But they are in danger, sleeping on the streets in this weather is dangerous for a start.