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General health

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Original poster

Who do I ring if I am concerned about the mental health of someone ??

19 replies

CrackerOfNuts · 08/04/2008 13:32

This person would currently be known to the local mental health team.

I live in Birmingham, who should I ring with my concerns ? Have looked on birmingham mental health site but can't sem to find who it is i should speak to.

OP posts:

ScienceTeacher · 08/04/2008 13:34

I think the council should have an adult protection group that you can phone.

Original poster

CrackerOfNuts · 08/04/2008 13:35

Thanks, will have a look now.

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popsycal · 08/04/2008 13:37

I would actually ring your own gp and ask who to ring.....

ScienceTeacher · 08/04/2008 13:37

Have a look at this page - it's not ideal, but I think there may be a few of the contacts that could lead you to the right one.

Original poster

CrackerOfNuts · 08/04/2008 13:56

Well I rang the mental health team that I know she is under and the guy i first spoke to took her name and adress and i heard him say 'ahh yes' so he obviously found her on the computer, and then he said he'd put me through to duty worker who couldn't have been more unhelpful.

She said that she couldn't discuss a neighbour with me. I told her that i didn't want to discuss her, I just wanted it noted that I had concerns about her current ,mental health so that someone could possibly visit her.

She said no sorry, ring her gp or the police.

I know which surgery she is at but not which gp, so will ring them when they reopen in a mo and ask them what to do.

OP posts:

Original poster

CrackerOfNuts · 08/04/2008 13:58

Thanks for the help though.

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chrissnow · 08/04/2008 14:06

God I hope you get somewhere. How appalling, someone needs help, quite possibly they don't realise they need halp and so can't ask for it. As a good person with some social responsibility (and a heart) you try to help and this is what you get??

janmoomoo · 08/04/2008 14:06

You need the local community mental health team (CMHT) of your local NHS mental health trust. Looks like it is part of Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health trust www.bsmht.nhs.uk/ Ring the switchboard and find out which team covers the area where the person lives, then contact them and ask to speak to a CPN (Community Psychiatric Nurse), or your friends care co-ordinator.

But be aware that they will probably be a bit wary of speaking to you due to confidentiality issues. If you have no luck contact the trust's PALS team (the number is on the BSMHT website) who are like advocates and will be able to tell you what to do.

Good luck,

janmoomoo · 08/04/2008 14:08

Sorry, cross-post. Thought that would be the response you would get. Its terrible when you are trying to help someone. Try the PALS team or try writing to them. If it gets serious yes, ring the police.

Original poster

CrackerOfNuts · 08/04/2008 14:11

Thats who I rang Jan, they were very unhelpful. I do understand there are confidentility issues but i wasn't asking for any info about her, i was giving them info.

Anyway, have just spoken to gp's surgery and they were brilliant. They are going to inform either her gp or the emergency gp and then leave it up to them what they do next.

I did have to give my name, whcih i didn't really want to do, but as we are the same surgery i thought it might help them to know who i was as they could then see that i was a neighbour. I have asked them not to inform anyone who it was that rang though.

The lady said it was good of me to be so kind as to be coincerned at all but for some reason i just feel a bit guilty now.

OP posts:

chrissnow · 08/04/2008 14:17

Don't feel guilty. You're being a good person.

janmoomoo · 08/04/2008 14:18

Dont worry, you have done the right thing.

Original poster

CrackerOfNuts · 08/04/2008 14:19

Yeah I guess, just not sure her family will see it that way.

Oh well, it's done now. Hopefully someone will at least go and see her now.

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madamez · 08/04/2008 14:23

You are doing the right thing, and it's a pity the social worker was a prat about it. (Years ago I remember reporting someone to their local mental health team/council, the person had sent a succession of letters to a moderately famous person I worked for/with at the time and the letters were really unhinged. No threat to the sleb, but I thought the writer needed help, and explained to whoever I spoke to that I wasn't making a complaint but if this individual was already under care, maybe the care team ought to know about the letter etc).

Original poster

CrackerOfNuts · 08/04/2008 14:25

Yes thats similar to what I said Madamez. I didn't ask any questions about my neighbour at all, didn't want to. I just wanted them to take her name and address and then once i'd hung up, look it up and deal with it.

If her gp is who i think it is, he is a lovely bloke and so will definatly act one what I have said pretty quickly.

I just think if she can be helped before she gets to the point of being sectioned again then surely it is worth a go.

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jesuswhatnext · 08/04/2008 14:31

cracker - fwiw, i think you are a good neighbour/friend. i really think her family would be relieved that someone 'outside' has taken an interest and is just as concerned about mum as they are!

as a last resort, call the police, my db is a copper and tells me that there are procedures for them to follow when dealing with an ill person - ie. ss have a duty of care, just as the police do!

Original poster

CrackerOfNuts · 08/04/2008 14:36

Thanks jesus.

Thankfully by the time the police are involved, the mental health team have normally been alerted. I just wish her dp would contact someone before it gets to the point it has previously, but I am aware that he may not get chance to do this if she is always with him.

OP posts:

ScienceTeacher · 08/04/2008 14:39

You are a good neighbour, CoN

Original poster

CrackerOfNuts · 08/04/2008 15:54

Thanks

I am glad I rung now as I saw another neighoubr on my way to school and she said that the neighbour i have concerns about has been going around a few neighbours today, singing and saying very odd things.

I knocked the door on the way home on the pretence of asking something about netball practice, and her dp and another lady who i didn't recognise where practically stood in front of the front dor, so i hope that means that they are expecting someone.

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