A friend informs you that your family member is demonstrating symptoms of a mental illness, and needs urgent psychiatric treatment to prevent harm to herself or those around her. But she refuses to seek treatment.
What do you do to help her? Do you respect her desires to not see a psychiatrist? Do you go against her wishes and initiate a psychiatric intervention? Is that even legal? Or should you just wait for an emergency to happen and then call 911?
Most people will be torn by conflicting interests, and unsure of how to respond. They'll struggle to reconcile the wishes of their loved one with their own beliefs about what course of action is appropriate. They might even worry about how their personal, social and work life will be affected by a loved one having mental illness. And in some cases, their reaction will be guided by the stereotypes and misconceptions commonly associated with mental illness.
So what's the appropriate response? How should family members react if a loved one demonstrates symptoms of a mental illness?
It's important to recognize that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to dealing with the complex issues associated with mental illness. The optimal care and treatment plan will depend on the nature and severity of the symptoms, the support system and resources available, and all the related facts and circumstances.
That's why you can best help your loved one by seeking advice from not just a mental health professional, but also a mental health lawyer who can explain the various legal options available to properly address the needs of your loved one, offer a steady and comforting hand, and ensure that you don't have to navigate the complex mental health system alone.
A skilled lawyer can offer important insights into the various treatment options, and if necessary, explain the various categories for admission to a psychiatric center so your loved one gets the appropriate treatment.
If your family member is non-compliant with a prescribed treatment regiment, a mental health lawyer can also assist you to understand your options, such as a court-ordered treatment plan (assisted outpatient treatment), and where immediate hospitalization is necessary, provide guidance on the different options for securing such care.
The challenges of caring for, supporting, and obtaining the appropriate treatment for a loved one with a mental illness are great, but you should never wait until there is an emergency to seek help. Get help today, and understand how you can make your life, and more importantly, that of your loved one, better.
