Anyone Had A Family Member Sectioned??

[magnolia74]

A close family member has gone on a complete meltdown again and is very dependent on alcohol and drugs inc cocaine. Picked up by police last night after freaking out in the streets.
She has been on antidepressants but alchol will stop them working properly. She had a cousellor but then refused to go.

Family support has been given at all times but its not enough

Think she needs 24hr help

no, but I am an ASW. this means I am a mental health social worker and have undertaken specialist training to section people.

The situation with your family member sounds really tough. What support is she getting at the moment?

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My mother has been sectioned once. She has dementia and was trying to leave the secure ward. In order to retarain her, she was (briefly) sectioned

This was while she was in an EMI unit

Her gp is good and she got her couselling quickly, the antidressants are there but not alwasy taken. She is living with my mum at the moment but its awful at home

My mum and dad have an appt with her gp tomorrow to discuss where to go next. She refuses to accept any more help from gp. Says they cannot do anything. Everyone hates her, no one loves her, She doesn't want her daughter (who has been at her dads for a week), Drinks from morning till night some days, lots of cocaine and sometimes violent (broke my mums finger)

She has tried to commit suicide 3 times although half heartidly what if she does it right noxt time

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Magnolia - has GP referred your relative to a community mental health team?

To be sectioned she needs two professionals and one family member to agree she needs help and is at risk. (or something similar)

Yes, my father and brother are psychiatrist sand that's right. It's not something done lightly either. I know Amy Winehouse's father or someone was talking about you cannot just say section that person and it's done.

I expect you can find on line what the criteria are. Would she agree to be admitted instead to a unit that deals with drink and drugs?

Yes perkin and thats who the counsellor was through but she refused to see them anymore.

Xenia I am hoping that she will agree to go into some type of unit whether it be psychiatric unit or one that deals with drink/drugs.
The problem is the alcohol and drugs are a way of dealing with the underlying depression so not sure where is the best place for her.

ok - so she has disengaged from the team.

CMHTs do have a duty to follow people up if they are at risk to themselves or others, even if the person wants nothing to do with them.

(whether this approach is right is perhaps a matter for another debate)

I would call the CHMT, clearly explain the risks, and that she has been picked up by the police. Request a crisis (ie urgent) visit. CMHT can then refer for a Mental Health Act assessment (sectioning) if appropriate.

One problem is that she cannot be sectioned if intoxicated by drink/drugs at the time she is seen. And she must be able to benefit from inpatient treatment - ie sectioning is not supposed to be used solely for containment. Do you know what your relative's diagnosis is?

Even if not sectionable, then CMHT can refer for inpatient detox if needed and agreed.

ps I am happy to give some more specific advice either here, or if you want to CAT me. really feel for you.

Have just spoke to my mum, she doesn't think it was through CHMT that the counselling was Whcih means she wasn't referred possibly and it was just referred for counselling only

So how quick can a mantal health worker see her if the gp refers her? Worried that another meltdown soon will result in her doing something serious to herself

I have just found out that she has been back and forth to the gp surgery over the past 6-8 montsh so why haven't they done more?

Surely it shouldn't get this far in the 1st place

I feel kind of dettatched from it all as I have 5 kids so can't involve myself at the drop of a hat and she has said and done some pretty nasty things recently which is hard for me to see past

GP can fax an urgent referral to CMHT. I'm afraid how quickly this is acted upon can vary from team to team.

GP can also refer directly to emergency mental health services in your area. If your family member is willing to go with you, then sometimes A&E can be a good gateway to longer term treatment. A&E departments have psychiatric nurses and psychiatrist available to them at all times - you need to ask for "liaison psychiatry or CPN".

ok thanks. The A &E bit is good to know and the gp visit is tomorrow so hopefully my parents can insist on things moving faster than they have been.