How to support DP with psychosis & depression

[SarahH12]

DP has been experiencing psychosis for a few months now. He's been to the GP who referred him to the primary mental health. It's been months now and he's still waiting on an urgent appointment.

I don't know how to support him in the meantime. He's withdrawing from everything and everyone and I just seem to make it worse. On top of that his depression is getting much worse too because of the psychosis.

Anyone have any experience in this and what helped / didn't help?

Or if you yourself have experienced it was there anything your partner could've done that helped?

Hiya, sorry to hear about your partner.. It must be very difficult to see him like this. I have a family member who suffers from a psychotic mental illness. One tip i can think of is if your partner is psychotic and explaining something that doesnt seem real to you, accept that as real to them as that is their reality and try to focus on the feelings, for example if someone psychotic says they are being followed dont say "no you're not being followed" say something like "thats scary? To think someone is following you" i hope that helps. Also, it is so important to get out and about in the best way they can handle at the moment. Whatever works, visit friends/family, walk in the park, trip to the shop, work,volunteering.. Anything but staying indoors alone as that is known to make mental illness worse.

Could you chase it up with the gp? He really, really should have been seen by now. There should be a mental health crisis team in your area - the gp needs to refer him to them, and they should come to see him within a couple of days. Is he on any medication?

Psychosis for a couple of months?? He needs a very urgent referral to your mental health team (are you in UK?) And an evaluation by a psychiatrist.

Thanks all. @SlowM0 your advice really helped.

He saw the crisis team who were amazing. They increased his medication and want to see him again in a week. They've also sent a letter to primary mental health to tell them he's under the care of the crisis team and could they speed up his appointment.

It's ridiculous though, he was already down as an urgent case and it was still months. I dread to think of how long it takes if you're not urgent.

If this is his first episode, or the first period of treatment he's received for psychosis then he should be under the early intervention in psychosis team. Why don't you give them a call. Anyone can refer.

I've never even heard of that @IStillMissBlockbuster

It's the second time. He had a period when he was younger too but that was years ago.

Early Intervention teams are not available everywhere, unfortunately.

Didn't want to start a new thread on this so thought I'd carry on this one.

Crisis team upped his meds. But then he keeps not taking them! Things got very scary shortly after I posted and they stabilised a bit when he increased his meds. I'm scared if he doesn't take them regularly he'll go back to that scary place. I know I can't force him to take them so I really don't know what to do

I'm sorry to hear that Sarah. You're right, you can't force him to take meds. What does he think of all of this? Does he think that he is unwell? Does he want help?

It sounds like he's been referred to the wrong team tbh although I know all areas are slightly different the primary care team are for the less severe cases where I live. Hence they have a long waiting list as they are usually for mild to moderate depression and anxiety. Have you been back to your GP? For psychosis he really should be seen by a secondary tier service where he would get seen sooner.

And you need to let the Crisis team know he's not taking his meds.

@IStillMissBlockbuster he thinks he's unwell. But because the meds stabilised for a little he stopped taking them at the weekend as he "felt better". He's started taking them again now as he felt more unwell again.

@Mrscaindingle around here primary mental health is all we've got. Well that and the crisis team who only see people short term (ie one or two sessions). The crisis team pushed for him to become an emergency case on the waiting list but we're still waiting to hear back.

Aah, that old chestnut. Loads of people do it. Like not finishing a course of antibiotics when you feel better. If he (and you) can see a difference in his mental health when he takes them versus when he doesn't , does that make him think that maybe he's better off taking them? To stay well?

Surely there is secondary care that covers your area?

Not that us or the crisis team are aware of @IStillMissBlockbuster I think he is starting to see the benefits of them having felt quite unsettled this week after stopping them at the weekend. Only time will tell though...

No advice really, just saying I've been in a similar position. My dh got depression after psychosis and is better now. Hope the meds get sorted.