To think keeping in touch with old mental health workers could be damaging

[Takemebackto]

One of ds’s friends is in touch still with his old cpn. He’s been discharged from mental health services for a year now. Aibu to think this could be damaging? Is it even allowed? I know it’s important to have a good working relationship with regards to therapy and mental health.

It's normal in the trust I work in for mental health patients to be on 'fast track' for 6 months to a year. This means that although they are discharged, ie not having regular follow up appointments, they can quickly access the service again should a crisis occur. It saves them having to go back to GP for a new referral and going on the waiting list. It works very well as a safety blanket.

He’s not under the service and has recovered. He’s talking to them in a social way.

How do you know that the social conversations aren't part of the follow up support? It'd be normal for a mental health support worker to ask about how the person is coping and normal for them to tell them about social contact that they are having.

We don’t have follow up support where we are. You have to go back to your gp.

You seem to know an awful lot about something which is absolutely none of your business.

Agree with Betty.

What do you think the issue is?

Mental health conditions generally aren't cured, they are managed. Surely it's only a good thing that he has someone who he can talk to, even socially, who can spot the signs of him struggling again or who he feels comfortable enough to talk about his feelings and problems? I think I'd actually feel quite comforted by it if it were my child!

Is it just that you don't like the individual?

My son was talking to me about it. He’s concerned that his friend might not be able to move on fully from his mental illness while still being in touch with someone that was with him at his lowest

Mental illness doesn't go away. It's managed, sometimes with great success. Your DS's friend is managing in a way that works for them. It's no one else's business what that ongoing management looks like to others as long as there isn't an abusive relationship involved.

With the greatest respect your DS needs to accept this.

If this is definitely a situation where the lines of a professional and personal. relationship are blurred then yes it Is worrying and i have known to happen ( albeit only once or twice) when I was a mental health Nurse the nurse would also be putting their professional integrity in jeopardy .

I'd assume the possibility your son might not have all the facts here - plenty of people don't choose to share everything about their MH and its treatment with friends. And unless they're fucking their ex-CPN, I don't see what the big deal is, and it's certainly not something you need to worry about.

Thank you for all responses. x2boys Is talking to ex mental health professionals in a friendship kind of way not allowed? When a nurse has either left the trust or a patient is discharged?

It wouldn't be encourage ,d no because it could be seen as an abuse of power it's a very grey area but I don't know many mental health Nurse,s who would seek out a friendship with a person that had been a patient of theirs and I would question why ,but of course that might or might not be happening here

I think he does get support from them and he doesn’t view it as a friendship as such. He more views it as someone that’s helped him and he wants to keep them updated etc.

Ah I think that sounds a bit different to the CPN seeking out a friendship ,I think that's fine tbh it's nice to know that a patient is maintaining their mental health ,I think the onus would be on the the CPN to ensure contact remained therapeutic and recognise if he's becoming to.dependent on them.

I just assumed they wouldn’t be to have contact at all once a person was discharged.