Urgent advice please, friend has made suicide attempt

[Stellarpunk]

Need some sound advice guys. A close friend has just told me that she attempted suicide this week. She had already been signed off work with depression but AD's not making any difference.

She has seen a psychologist and has an appointment with psychiatrist on Monday. I think that the psycologist tried to get her admitted voluntarily to a secure unit. She refused as she believes she will lose custody of her two children.

Through talking to her, I believe she is in a serious crisis and needs urgent help. Only her Dr, psychologist and I know about the suicide attempt. She is a single mother. Her only relatives (DF and DB) live at opposite ends of country.

What practical steps do I need to take this weekend to help her? Would she lose her children permenantly if she is sectioned?

Thanks for reading.

Tricky situation, she may well loose her children but could only be on a temp basis, all you can really do is be a good friend and be there for her which in turn could take its toll you on you, can any of her family you mentioned help out by perhaps stay with her and helping her out with her DC for a bit?

I know of people who have been sectioned and have children - it might only be a short stay to stabilise matters. If she does get assessed (for section), she could raise the issue of who would temporarily look after the children.

She could also try Mind (0300 123 3393 ) or rethink (0300 5000 927) for advice.

No she won't lose her children, but will in fact be given the help and support she needs. Is there a crisis team locally her gp can refer her to it if she's still a serious risk to herself. They are mental health workers who can support her in her own home therefore avoiding admittance to hospital. Obviously if they think she should be admitted then she should, but support for the kids will also be put in place. Social work, mental health workers etc really won't remove children unless it's a last resort.

I've been sectioned twice and I still have my daughter. As long as her children have somewhere safe to stay if she does get sectioned, that's all they worry about I think.