What he said. It hadn't occurred to me that you'd want an advocate, but hell yeah if I was inside it really would be good to have one, he is right about that. I know this from having had a friend who is depressed and refuses help. It is hard to be that person's friend, but harder if that person kills himself.
I also think that the point about checking on the meds he is taking is well-founded. And no, I do not know what organization Denny is talking about but Google knew about the ones below. You said you are in Australia right? Here are some starting points; chances are these sites have resource pages also: http://www.tased.edu.au/tasonline/mhcrc/ ARAFMI Association of Relatives and Friends of the Mentally Ill, in Hobart, Tasmania. Support for caregivers, including meetings once a month http://www.sane.org/ SANE Net An Australian organization with an e-mail helpline, involved in community education, research, support and more. http://www.vicserv.org.au/ VICSERV (Psychiatric Disability Services of Victoria) Psychiatric Disability Support Services provide support to consumers and carers through programs such as home-based outreach, psychosocial rehabilitation day programs, mutual support and self-help, respite and advocacy. hope that helps Dana On Sun, Sep 28, 2008 at 12:38 AM, denstar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > On Fri, Sep 26, 2008 at 8:06 PM, CyberAngel wrote: >> See that's part of the problem, the one thing he has left is his work. The >> Dr's from what I am to understand have basically said that he is too sick >> not to work, but he is too sick to work. He see's two dr's every 2 days, no >> ifs no butts. > > If he's not eating well, and not sleeping well, it will probably get worse. > > He should look at his health-plan, if he's got one, and see what it > provides for. Sometimes a couple weeks, maybe a month, are just what > is needed. The company will cover the time in some mellow > institution, or an institution, period. > > A break from all that outside pressure. > >> Now you talk about self committing? How would that go about friends, we have >> felt that our last option is to put him out of harms way. I believe the >> option has been mentioned between the dr's, but it is understood that he >> isn't really eating and it will just make it worse. > > Friends/Support network is the key element to getting better. > Theodore Huxley has some interesting thoughts about it, IIRC, in the > doors of perception, but the concept is that it's pretty fucking crazy > in a mental institution. You need non-crazies to help get you back on > that plane most people call "sane". IMO. Those places can seriously > fuck you up. > > The difference between committing oneself, and being committed, is > that generally, it's easier to get out if you put yourself in there. > That said, it's still scary, because without people to fight for you, > on the "outside", it might not work that way. > > It's good to get any medical stuff taken care of ahead of time. If he > trusts you, and you can hang with it, you could be his "advocate", and > medical whatchamacallit. Basically, it would be up to you to research > the drugs they want to put him on, and ask questions he might not be > in the state of mind to ask. > > If he's not too far gone, he may be able to just take some time off, > maybe go on some medication (is he on stuff already? Perhaps they > need to adjust his dosage/medications), and get unwound a bit. "Work" > may be just keeping his hands busy, and a fishing pole can do that > too. A good friend to keep him company, and all better. :-) > > But if you're seriously fearing for his life, well... I wouldn't > presume to tell someone what to do in those awful decision time-times, > doing anything (doing nothing is something) could have some heavy > consequences. > > I've called suicide lines, in the past, when I wasn't sure what to do, > and, well... "Ask them frankly", is one thing they'll tell you. > > But, really, they'll urge you to save your friend's life. The answer > to "how" isn't easy. Sometimes it takes doing something you'd really > rather not, and feeling like a rat for it. Usually it doesn't, but > sometimes it does, and if you guess wrong... well, think about the > various outcomes, and make the call you think is needed. > > Whatever happens, well, it was meant to, anyways. We've still got > free will tho. :-) > > Total bitch to have to think about the stuff. Not easy. Not fun. > > Depending on his problems tho, and available facilities, the nut-house > ain't a half-bad solution. I'd want people to have my back tho, were > I to go into one. And I'd want to go to a nice one. They can vary > WIDELY, so research is a damn good idea. > >> Sorry for the questions this is all new to me. > > Hmmm. Finding out how this stuff works isn't a bad idea. > > There are some pretty good groups out there, and I'd contact your > local whatchamacallit (Dana might know that acronym-- mental health > advocates or similar, I think it's world-wide) to get the nity-gritty > on what stuff is available in your area. > > Heavy thoughts. I feel for you, as well as your friend. > > If he does end up "in" someplace, it will do him wonders to have your > support. Bringing "awesome" food, for instance, may help your friend > keep eating, and encourage him. > > Committing someone is the last last resort, IMO, but it is better than > death. IMO. > > Not that I've been dead, 'cept for maybe in this dream this one > time... but logically, there's always time to experience it later. > Let us see what else will happen, I say! > > -- > Woohoo for unpredictability! > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Adobe® ColdFusion® 8 software 8 is the most important and dramatic release to date Get the Free Trial http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;207172674;29440083;f Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/message.cfm/messageid:271164 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5
