Electro shock treatment

[elfsmum]

BIL made a valiant attempt at suicide 2 months ago - 4 seperate attempts in the space of a few hours, so not a cry for help I don't think.

he has been in a secure hospital ever since but is allowed to come home with supervision - he has spoken about and is getting feelings of violence - felt like he could pick up a brick and throw it at DC's.

Wanted to grab the steering wheel in the car off DH.

some home visits now are where if he feels like he wants to act on this children are out of the way and the adults put themselves in a position where they could limit any potential harm.

He is 52, is single and has lived alone with no partner in sight for 15 years.

He hasn't responded to medication, and the suggestion is now electro shock treatment.

we are all a bit stunned, have looked it up and it doesn't seem to be used in the main, but only for severe depression where medication hasn't worked.

not sure what I'm asking, maybe if there is something else that should be tried first ?

could the environment be not helping him to get better ? there are some very ill people who he is with (I know he is very ill too) who are on strong medication, so not really able to engage.

or am I clutching at straws ?

he seems to be in a self perpetuating cycle of negativity with no real way of stopping that cycle and him feeling more positive

I work in a mental health unit where we have the ECT suite which provides the service for the whole county.

It definitely works and is nowhere near as horrible as people imagine.

To be honest, if it was me that was so depressed I was suicidal, I would gladly have the treatment myself.

Thanks Moon,

we are very worried for him, and want what's best.

my DH and his sister are going in to speak to his doctors, he does need help.

My bil had this treatment a few years ago. It has helped him function but he is not the person he used to be. However that is probably due to the depression. He still takes ads and has counselling fortnightly so was not an instant fix iyswim.

I think the only side effect for him was memory loss.

I think I know what you mean Saffy, my BIL just isn't the same anymore, there's no light behind his eyes.

he can't see any positives, he thinks he's a complete failure, everything we're trying to do to help him he's really negative about afterwards, taking him to play golf, do his garden etc

or he's getting there and can't be bothered.

although I do know that a lot of that is symptomatic of depression.

The saddest part is that he doesn't know if he was to be allowed to come home whether he'd try to take his life again

I don't think he'll ever be the same again