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Mental health

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How do I help my neighbour?

2 replies

FavouritePJs · 16/03/2026 14:36

My neighbour is (until very recently) a single parents in her twenties, recently got married to a what appears to be decent a man who is very good with her DS. It has become apparent she is undergoing a mental health crisis as a result of her family trying to force her into an arranged marriage (keeping her prisoner, beating her etc) when attending a wedding overseas. There have been numerous occasions whereby she believes she’s still overseas and is very frightened, her husband has called the police and paramedics more than once, including when I have been present, nobody has offered her any help, or signposted her to any support services. In the midst of this, apart from her DS, I seem to be the only person she recognises, this only happens when she sleeps and she has no recollection of the severity of it the next day. Her husband has now taken to knocking on my door in the middle of the night to go and help this happens. I will obviously continue to support but am really struggling now on very little sleep and a full time job. Can anyone advise where I can go to get her some help? This is not just a case of nightmares that she wakes from, as she runs out of the house, into the road, with her DS in tow, in order to escape the people she believes are after her, she is also pregnant. I don’t know what to do.

OP posts:
Eyesopenwideawake · 16/03/2026 14:41

You need to make it clear to the husband that he needs to push (and push) for professional help from the crisis team – maybe in conjunction with her GP or midwife? – because it's unfair to ask you to be responsible for her.

momz1 · 20/03/2026 10:35

This is a serious mental health emergency, not just nightmares, and she needs urgent psychiatric help.
Her husband should take her to A&E or contact mental health services, as police alone isn’t enough.If she or the child is at risk, call emergency services this needs professional support.

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