I've posted on here before about DS who goes missing, often, from psychiatric wards and a previous history of addiction, homelessness and MH issues. We lost contact with him for several years. Was hell. We then found him and it took months to get him any help at all. He's been in hospitals, under a Section until days ago, for well over a year. A few months ago, he was moved to a rehab unit. Through all this time, he's gone AWOL though the last few times, he has returned when he said he would. Not this time.
He's been off since mid week. Rehab said he'd made plans with someone else but in fact he hasn't. Nurse we spoke to tonight was very cagey, actually very cold. Said that he'd been told, before he left presumably, that if he didn't return by today, and against medical advice, he'd have voluntarily discharged himself. He has no means of supporting himself. He's vulnerable, on meds, and has a no of working diagnoses which means that he needs continued support.
DS can't come home yet. Pains me to write this. Younger siblings went through hell in the years before he left because of his behaviour and simply aren't ready. I am trying. I'm seeking help about family reconciliation because I desperately want the family I love so much to come together again.
- Post discharge from a Section. Section 117 after-care should kick in? Even if the patient is voluntary (following a long time on one Section or another)? From conversations today with the rehab unit, we pick up that they don't want to be involved further.
- How can we persuade them not to discharge. On a third conversatoin, we found that he'd taken his stuff with him. Quite why that wasn't picked up when he left and why we weren't told (we're very engaged carers), I don't know. It doesn't bode well.
- If his not returning by today is against 'medical advice', isn't that a tacit admission that he needs continued care? Meds soon run out.
Sorry so long. I am beside myself with worry.