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Original poster

Has anybody ever actually gone to A&E because they were suicidal or just not coping?

265 replies

ABitWrong · 03/08/2009 18:36

What do they do? Do they let you go? Do they involve SS?

OP posts:
Original poster
ABitWrong · 03/08/2009 18:40

please can somebody tell me

OP posts:
nickschick · 03/08/2009 18:41

oh hun i dont know, maybe talking on here will help you

nickschick · 03/08/2009 18:42

bump

makedoandmend · 03/08/2009 18:45

I haven't - but if no one on here knows the Samaritans will probably know what exactly would happen - have you thought of ringing them - they really will do whatever they can to help.

Are you asking for yourself ABitWrong?

Original poster
ABitWrong · 03/08/2009 18:46

yes i feel really bad

OP posts:
scoutandjem · 03/08/2009 18:46

I'm sorry I don't know. When I have been down I have called the Samatians and they have been great. S x

DjangoTheDjinn · 03/08/2009 18:49

Samaritans

makedoandmend · 03/08/2009 18:50

Can you talk about it ABW?

here - you can email or phone.

Do you think you can give them a call. I've phoned them before they're fantastic - really really great.

TrinityRhinoIsInDetention · 03/08/2009 18:51

please ring the samaritans abitwrong
please

Original poster
ABitWrong · 03/08/2009 18:52

I do email them but it is so slow

am sitting here trying to act normal for the children, I can't phone

OP posts:
makedoandmend · 03/08/2009 18:53

You can't phone because the children are in the room or because you don't have a phone?

Original poster
ABitWrong · 03/08/2009 18:53

I don't know if I am going to fall apart

OP posts:
Original poster
ABitWrong · 03/08/2009 18:54

can't phone because i am with the children

OP posts:
DjangoTheDjinn · 03/08/2009 18:56

Do you have any friends or family nearby? Can you resolve to ring the GP in the morning and tackle this and then find a way through tonight?

Do you have a partner?

How long until the children go to bed? Could they go early with a book or a dvd or something?

Winetimeisfinetime · 03/08/2009 18:56

I'm not sure about ss as children weren't involvement but mny brother attempted suicide and was taken to hospital by a friend and was seen by the Crisis Mental Health Team. I don't know what they did but he refused further intervention and they let him go home.

I'm sorry to hear you are feeling so bad ABitWrong - I hope you can get some help and start to feel better. If you are feeling suicidal and need urgent attention then do please go to a&e. Getting immediate help is more important than anything else.

onepieceoflollipop · 03/08/2009 18:58

To answer your original OP I have never been to A&E because I felt suicidal, but I have been to A&E to assess patients who are suicidal (I am a mental health nurse)

Basically they should arrange for a psychiatrist or mental health nurse to see you and offer you an assessment. Generally speaking the outcome depends on what you actually say to them and how you feel.

For example, for a lot of people they need extra support which can be arranged through the mh services. It is fairly rare for ss to be called. Obviously if a parent was saying that they intended to go and harm the children or had harmed them etc then appropriate action would be taken.

If a patient says that they are actively suicidal this will be explored. The psychiatrist needs to assess if the person is able to take responsibility for their decisions or if due to their mental health they need further support/hospital admission etc.

makedoandmend · 03/08/2009 18:58

What time do the children go to bed ABW. Is there anyone who could come over for a bit to help you until you can phone in privacy?

If you fall apart you will be able to pick yourself up again. I know it probably feels like if you start to unwravel you won't be able to stop, but you will. Believe me I've done it.

cupofteaplease · 03/08/2009 18:59

Please do go to A&E- they will help you. My darling sister attempted suicide- thankfully she survived, and SS weren't involved, even though she was a single parent. Please seek help ASAP- your children love you x

skybright · 03/08/2009 19:00

Hi ABitWrong. Sorry that your feeling so crap.

I f you go to A and E because you are feeling suicidal you will be seen and assessed either by a Doctor or a nurse from a mental health assessment team.

I am not sure were you live but when you are assessed there are usually a few options that you could decide together what would help you best.

Sometimes (dependant on your area) there are Intensive Home Treatment Teams which are an alternative to hospital for people going through crisis,consultant ,nurses and OT's make up these teams and would visit you in your home on a daily or twice daily time. You would be prescribed any medication that might be helpful and they will refer to any other help you might need.

Another alternative is a stay in a hospital which is usually not as bad as it seems,you would get a lot of support and help.

The assessment service could refer you to less intensive community nurses or ask you to go to your GP as soon as possible.

You are obviously really worried about SS,if you can try and think of it this way,lots and lots of people feel suicidal at times. It does not matter if you are 60 or 16,have 10 kids or none,you are ill and you need to be seen and helped.

In my experience a referel to SS would be discussed with the person and this would actually usually be on the request of the person to enable them to access some support and help.

No one would want to do anything but help and support you...honestly you don't need to go on like this,please get some help.x

onepieceoflollipop · 03/08/2009 19:00

I would advise telephoning your local mental health unit/hospital and asking for the contact numbers for the out of hours crisis team. (services vary slightly from area to area but they will know what you mean)

It might be more helpful to you to speak to a professional on the phone first rather than the disruption of going to A&E as a first port of call?

I know you are saying that it is difficult to phone, but I imagine it will be even more difficult logistically speaking to get to A&E?

makedoandmend · 03/08/2009 19:00

sorry x posted

skybright · 03/08/2009 19:04

If you want to speak on here,we would listen.

TrinityRhinoIsInDetention · 03/08/2009 19:04

where do you live?
I would come and help you

Faigle · 03/08/2009 19:04

I felt like that the other day.
I phoned someone I could trust,talked to them until I calmed down.I took some valium too(on their suggesstion) which really helped-you probably don't have any though.
Is there anyone you trust enough to phone,and just tell how you are feeling who could even come round and sit with you.

I know how you feel.I was there not long ago.

Where do you live?

weegiemum · 03/08/2009 19:08

I haven't.

But I have called the emergency Community Psychiatric Team in the middle of the night - but then I was already under the CPN care system. They gave me diazepam to help me sleep and released me to care of dh (but then, dh is a psychiatric trained GP) with and emergency psych apointment for the next am with my own psych.

They might let you go. It depends on how you are. You usually have to be a serious danger to yourself or to others to be detained.

Do you have a current psychiatric diagnosis? Do you have a CPN, or GP who knows what is going on? can you call a friend/have a supportive partner/family to help/Samaritains are also good.

Social Services will not be involved unless you are putting your kids at risk. Strangely, admitting you have a problem can sometimes be a help with this - you are being sensible etc ......

Please let us know you are ok.