How can I support my friend better?

[MarklahMarklah]

I have changed a few minor details to retain anonymity here.

I have known X for around 8 years - we met & bonded over a common interest. Friend's mental health meant that they were unable to pursue this particular interest owing to the setting.

Friend has been diagnosed with (that I know of) - anxiety, ASD, OCD, PTSD and Personality disorder.

It has come to light during conversations with friend that they were abused (physically and mentally and possibly sexually though the latter has not been confirmed to me) by persons responsible for their care during childhood. Persons in this case are affiliated with a religious body/institution. A court case is being compiled, friend may have to testify. Denials from accused are rife and even from outside, this just reeks of 'cover-up'.

Friend had a traumatic childhood and was not diagnosed with ASD until late adulthood.

Friend is currently suicidal. Has asked GP and mental health team for assistance. GP has marked as 'non-urgent' and attributes problems to friends' ASD. Mental health team have declined to see friend and have suggested simply increasing medication. No offer of a meeting/review.

Area friend lives in has a poor record for mental health support.

Friend lives in semi-sheltered accommodation but is self-sufficient in as much as does own cooking,cleaning etc, but has reduced accommodation as cannot work.

Friend has a number of physical disabilities but can walk (albeit in great pain) for a short distance, and perform a number of manual tasks (ditto). Mainly out of necessity as no care support is in place.
[disabilities include palsy, spinal degeneration, foot drop and arthritis and osteoarthritis]

Friend has just made a verbal threat to a specific office involved in their 'care' because after a week of trying to help, none has been forthcoming. Friend believes police are coming to arrest them now.

I don't live near to friend and am not in a position to accommodate them as I don't have the room/facilities.

Friend has in the past month been continually self-harming - which I only found out about yesterday.

What can I do?

How do you get someone support when their own GP and mental health care team won't assist them? They have a car as ASD means they cannot use public transport, but neighbours have reported friend for 'walking around' and last review by whoever determine how disabled people are have changed goalposts. Friend previously had to walk 50m unaided but could not, so qualified for a vehicle. At last review (very recently) it was 20m which friend could do, but in great pain.

Sorry for ramble, but I don't know what to do, or where to go. Have looked at 'emergency help' online for mental health but it suggests speaking with GP, local mental health team or walking into A&E (which friend cannot do - see ASD).

Currently trying to find out if there is anywhere near me friend can move to, but that's a long-term thing, I need to find help of a more immediate kind.

Upshot of yesterday was that despite making threats, police did not arrive to arrest friend.
A referral to the MH crisis team was made, with an 'urgent' appointment next week. Friend has a contact no. to call them on of things escalate to the point of meltdown again before that.

But going forward? How can I help more? Or perhaps my question should be, hide can my friend access better support?

Hi,

Glad to hear that your friend now has crisis team support, hopefully they will be able to put the right support in place going forward. The GP tends to be the best point of contact, it may be your friend struggled to put accross the urgency. You can call their GP to give them more information, they can't tell you anything about your friend of their care, but theres nothing to stop them listening. I've found 111 helpful in the past too when I've not been able to get DH to A&E they have sent an out of hours GP out to see him. In some areas you can self refer to crisis team by phone, this will be the emergency number they have given your friend.

Thanks Nolonger - unfortunately friends GP doesn't seem to understand autism or how to communicate effectively with friend, which is one of the main problems here.
I'll relay the info about calling 111 though.
Since the withdrawal of financial support for a pain management clinic that friend was attending, things have snowballed. Hopefully they will utilize the crisis team no if needed over the next few days.