To think I shouldn’t Be offered a home visit

[Whythough64]

I’ve been engaging with the mh team over phone. I spoke to them on the phone today and they are proposing they do a home visit as they are concerned. Aibu to say no on the grounds it’s against the government guidelines?

www.rethink.org/advice-and-information/rights-restrictions/mental-health-laws/mental-health-act-1983/

If your dp has your best interests at heart then they would be willing to allow your MH team a home visit. They really really wouldn't be pushing for one, especially in the time of COVID, if they didn't think it was beneficial. I was a CMHT service user for years and understand the value of having them see you in your safe space.

Why don't you want them in your house?

I'm not the Op but having strangers demand entry to my house makes my mental health considerably worse in of itself. I was pretty stable when dc2 was born but I didn't sleep the night before the midwives and health visitors were due and I'd met them all before. The trauma behind my diagnosis of PTSD took place at home and I need to control my environment. That means keeping out people I don't know/trust. I can imagine multiple other reasons why someone might feel similarly.

And they should also explain to her why they are insisting on a home visit even though she has suggested suitable alternatives.

And of course it’s not because they are concerned about her partner. Shows how little people know about domestic violence. They would have welcomed her alternatives because well cannot really ask when he’s in the house ffs.

And say if it is dv and she wants to talk about this away from him but cannot say on the phone cos guess what? He’s at home

They will wear gloves and masks in your home

Knowing your rights is great. It's not always easy to make sure they're observed though.

When I pointed out to the police that they needed a warrant to arrest me in my home (section 135 vs 136) as per my rights, they just laughed and told me I had no rights.

@Dinosauratemydaffodils
Exactly. When they tried pulling this shit through the roof because you know, best interests, it sent my mh into overdrive and caused more bloody issues.

And after I walked away from that meeting they were satisfied. I’m sure they just wanted a cuppa and also showed a serious lack of insight into me.

THe risks from one person visiting your home are very low.

Lockdown is easing and we are all gradually starting to mingle, but safety.

If you think through what your concerns are I am sure there are ways t9 address them. You can still maintain 2m distance. Don’t offer any drinks and as them not to touch door handles. Use hand sanitiser.

They must be concerned about you if they want to Visit. And perhaps you and your partners reaction to suggests they could be right.

Contact them and talk through your concerns. If you are in a high risk group let them know.

But do let them visit, accept the help.

If it was her partner they would want to see her away from him because you know, victims don’t talk when their abusers are in the house at the same time. Listening.

If they agreed with her reasonable outside visit they would get more from her

And of course it’s not because they are concerned about her partner. Shows how little people know about domestic violence. They would have welcomed her alternatives because well cannot really ask when he’s in the house ffs.

Nope. Not always. It may not be about speaking to her about possible abuse. But wanting to observe her in her home.

And yes, actually, mental health teams do, do this. Sometimes to see if the support they think is there, actually is.

Having been a victim of domestic violence, also under the mental health team and having to flee my home.....i am guessing I know more than you.

Especially, since you think they don't want to observe someone in their home environment to learn more about them and the dynamics of who they live with.

It is entirely possible. Not definite. Possible.

Mental Health services are damned if they do damned if they don't it seems. They are accused of being negligent for not giving people help then when they try to help (and believe me, they are putting their own health on the line by doing home visits and I doubt they want to be) they are also accused of putting people at risk.

@NervousInYorkshire
Everyone in my home knows all the basics of it. Near the door all the info is on hand. My advocate is someone I trust and is there.

When they threatened me with it, it was knowing that before they dragged me out the usual appeals etc would be put in and as an emergency that made them back off. Just because I didn’t want them in my home doesn’t mean I’m a danger to anyone and if they wanted to play that game bring it coz I can provide loads that it’s them causing me harm.

I was unlucky enough to live alone, so...
And even if I hadn't been handcuffed, what could I have done? Phoned the police about the police?

Just because I didn’t want them in my home doesn’t mean I’m a danger to anyone and if they wanted to play that game bring it coz I can provide loads that it’s them causing me harm.

With all due respect, I don't think you are in a place to be issuing advice to the op. You sound in quite a bad state yourself.

Home visits are taking place when necessary for example for blood tests, wound care and non-MH primary care interventions that can't be safely slipped. Try not to worry, OP, even if you have a member of your household who needs to shield for confirmed medical reasons, especially if they truck up in PPE to manage any risk of infection. If you don't need to shield then provided then don't come too close to you then the benefits may outweigh the risks. I understand if you have anxiety, especially health anxiety then you may feel the risks more.

Good luck.

You would guess wrong as you have no idea what I have been through.
You have no idea why it is on my notes about sectioning me and basically don’t. Yet there I was threatened because I did not want a home visit. They saw me and went away happy.

Even when I was with my abusive ex I still didn’t want them in my home. Not because of him but because I chose who comes in unless you have a warrant.

Your partner doesn’t want people visiting? This isn’t people visiting. It’s professionals coming to do their jobs. You need to engage with them.

I know I’m probably not considering I’m also under mh.
Hence rather than tell her she has to or else I have suggested she look into her legal rights and posted a link to rethink. The first question I asked her was what was their reasoning for only her home to be deemed suitable.

And just Incase she missed it. Here it is again.

www.rethink.org/advice-and-information/rights-restrictions/mental-health-laws/mental-health-act-1983/

See them. If they’re concerned, you need to. Even if it’s standing in the garden.

When people are offering mental health support they are more than used to the idea that patients struggle with the nature of the treatment. Posters on this tread are judging quite harshly because OP doesn't seem uber reasonable, but that is the nature of the problem.

There are some conditions where having people in the home at a time like this might cause a spiral into worsening mental health. Normally CBT would involve not always avoiding triggers but right now if the visit is a one off and normal treatment is disrupted then it could just be unhelpful.

However, presumably the team know the nature of your condition OP, and if they still feel this is needed they are very possibly right. Can you say more about why you don't want them to come, and have you discussed it honestly with them?

If it really is a concern over the rules, then please do not worry, it is allowed.

I’m not in a bad state btw. This was back in March/April. They saw me outside and were satisfied. I’ve since had a meeting with my psychiatrist and had my meds reduced.

@Inkpaperstars:

As a MH HCP, (with NHS CBT training) your points are valid.

However:

It's not so much a case of not understanding / 'being reasonable'.

It's a case of gently reminding the OP that things might spiral more outwith her control if she doesn't co operate with the MH team.

OP: I see that this is stressful. But try, if you possibly can, to allow them to come to the door to lay eyes on you / see them in the garden if you have one for 10 minutes - if that puts their minds at rest then they are less likely to escalate things which could mean more stress.

(Caveat: I have no idea of any Dx so cannot say the severity and therefore guess how likely any Crisis Team is to take further steps)

If you're a bit uncomfortable with them entering your home, you could suggest your garden and sit 2m away. You could open the window (upstairs) and talk to them that way.
Or you could sit in your car and they could sit in theirs.
You don't have to let anyone into your home but medically trained professionals will want to protect both you and themselves from risk of covid whilst providing you with the service you need.
When they arrive you could say that you're not ready to let someone in yet but be open to the idea of letting them in IF you're ready to after a bit of a chat on how to reduce spread in your home.
They are likely to come across many people in your situation, with people who have severe OCD for example - the whole idea of someone coming near their home must be so frightening so they have lots of experience on how to make you safe.

It may be safer for them to visit you if you're worried about infection. Your garden will be in the open air you can distance better, you can clean afterwards. Their clinic will have had more people visiting. Why dont you and your partner want them to come to your home if they are concerned about you.

The team could have also explained to the op how they would come into the home to help alleviate her concerns. What precautions etc they would take.
They should be reassuring her what if that person needs to go toilet during the home visit etc.

So the op let’s them in, is seriously on edge because she feels forced, what logical reason would it for observation? It’s no longer her safe space were she should feel comfy.

Rather than observing maybe they could do it through questions rather than going away with their own narrative based on their own assumptions. You know like other professionals do when abuse is suspected.