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09-02-2019 04:33 PM
09-02-2019 04:33 PM
What next and now what happens??
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11-02-2019 06:55 PM
11-02-2019 06:55 PM
Re: What next and now what happens??
Hey there @MyLilBro,
I am so sorry to hear that you and your family are going throgh such a difficult time at the moment. I can hear you are feeling very overwhelmed and you have tried so many things to help your little brother.
I can also hear your frustrtation with services telling you that he must be of harm to himself or others to be assessed in hospital. Unfortunately this is correct, in Australia we are not able to force someone to seek help without their consent. A person needs to be unwilling to seek help and be a danger to themselves or others.
Going to the GP is the best outcome for your brother, as a GP can set up a Menatl Helath Care plan with him which allows him to 10-medicare rebate sessions with a psychologist. It seems as though you have already tried this and your brother did not return to the GP unfortunately. I think you should have a look at the your-support section of our website here. It gives some useful tips on contacting crisis and assessment teams, and having a conversation with your loved one about getting support.
You mentioned police, however i am unsure if you have sought the assistance of the Crisis Assessment and Treatment team (CATT). They are a psychiatric team who are made up of psychologists, psychiatric nurses and psychiatrists, if someone is unwell and unable or unwilling to access treatment in the community it may be appropriate to refer them to this team. For the referral to a CAT team to be appropriate, the person must be at risk of harm to themselves or others or be experiencing a deterioation in ther mental health that could put them at risk. The number for Tasmania is 1800 332 338. I would advise that you give this number to your mother and father, and if they are feeling as though your brother will harm himself or someone else to give them a call, especially if they would rather not call the police.
I understand that this whole process is really frustrating and can seem hopless at times, i encourage you to try your best to look after yourself and encourage your mum to do the same. Usually looking after ourselves can be the last thing on our mind when we have a family member struggling with mental illness, especially when they are living with us, however it is important as you can burnout yourself. Have you thought of seeking support yourself by seeing a psychologist ? This would be something you could encourage your parents to do as well, just to add an extra bit of support to this sitatuion.
Take care of yourself and please feel free to continue sharing your story on the forums.
All the best,
Turqouise.