DS, late 20s, MH and homeless

[Eleanor1066]

DS, late 20s, has had MH difficulties for years - was sectioned in the past and has tried to take his life. Became angry, left home, became estranged but returned from time to time in various states of difficulty. Then left and though we looked and looked, we couldn't track him down.

A few months ago we had news that he'd been sleeping rough in our home town, on and off, for several years. Now, we're in touch and desperately trying to get him accommodation & an uptodate MH diagnosis and support. Because of younger siblings, who recall very difficult times when he lived at home, he can't come home yet - the time will come, I so hope, but it isn't now.

An application for housing was turned down on the basis that his current condition isn't known (they hardly looked at his past); he has off and on contact with a homeless charity in the area; spends nights here and there (including hotels when we can afford to pay for - we are in a tight budget and now in debt), often on the street. He's been hearing voices for some years & is in very poor physical health.

We're trying hard to get a diagnosis but his wondering in and out of the homeless charity centre (where a GP occasionally atttends) does't help. Can we take him, technically of no fixed abode, to our GP? He's reluctant to go to the hospital, perhaps fearing that he'd be sectioned again.

I'm at my wit's end. Trying to get supported accommodation when the Council won't refer him and when it's in limited supply. Are there any housing associations etc who support adults with MH issues, which accept self-referrals and don't turn down people without local connections (though we've lived here for a long time, Council are quick to say that without evidence, DS cannot prove that he's lived in the area for the past few years - he's been in and of it, largely because his condition leads him to go wonder off and come back, usually when we've paid for him as he's run out of money.

I posted sometime ago elsewhere on MN about DS' legal position - now I would really appreciate any thoughts about accessing MH dianogsis and support. And to be reassured that there is help for people who hear voices.

If he's been sectioned before he should have been given a care plan and seen a doctor? Could you phone to get a copy. I'm suprised he's not been referred to the mental health team as normally would take them and two docs to be sectioned. Did they not diagnose him?

He needs to see a gp. Register and take him to be refered to the mental health team. From there he should get a care coordinator who will help with the homeless application.

Keep trying with the council. Again take all evidence and get a gp to write a note about his illness. They should provide emergency accommodation. If he has family then that's his local connection.

The mental health team can refer ppl to assissted living or respite where you get one week a month where I am.

It's crap but he needs to get in the system because then he would have much more support from a care coordinator in my experience.

Thanks, Polka. DS may have been given a care plan but at the time that he was sectioned, he was living elsewhere and we had far too little contact. We're trying to get him to a GP. He's very elusive and hard to pin down ie keeping to arrangements to meet.

Council provided emergency accommodation a few months ago and, some weeks later, rescinded it on the basis that in the past he'd made himself homeless - not sure about that at all - and that he doesn't have a local connection. They wanted him to prove that he'd lived locally, even on the street, for the past couple of years or four out of six.

We're family, we live here and this is where is lived since he was a teenager. And he's been sleeping rough in the area for the past coupe of years (though until Christmas, we had absolutely no idea).

I've asked again - they said that there's only one opportunity for temporary housing.

We put him up in hotels when we can but at weekends, especially, they are very expensive round here. We're in a lot of debt as it is - DS has nothing - no benefits, nothing and nobody except us. His ESA was stopped ages ago and an appeal failed. We're helping him with a reconsideration of the appeal.

Tonight, after a day looking for him, we found him and I have the job of finding a dry sleeping bag as the one he keeps outside is wet. We put him in a hotel last night but simply don't have the funds today, except for giving him food money.

I'm in quite a state as you can image. Desperately sad, unable to focus on anything except DS, unable to sleep. I dream that I'm holding him and taking him home. If only I could. But he needs a diagnosis, proper support, a roof over his head and eventually reconciliation with his siblings. That day may be far off but I long for it. My focus is DS, who is ill (and desperately thin) and vulnerable but I'm half wondering if I should see my GP for some meds to help me sleep, for some support, anything - even some help to navigate the local health/MH system in this area which does seem really labyrinehine at times.

Polka - your words have spurred me to get a MH referral for DS - thank you.