Schizophrenic brother

cleo?

Sorry if I'm posting in the wrong area, I had a look around and this one seems the most appropriate.

In a nutshell: I found out yesterday that my brother is schizophrenic, he's in his late 30s and he and my family have had problems with him for years but I know now for sure he's mentally ill.

My question is, how do I get him help if he can't see that he's sick? Spoke to a GP today who can't do anything as he hasn't met my brother before. He said I need to speak to my brother's GP - that's pretty much impossible as I don't think he has one and even if he had, he'd never tell me. He's very secretive about everything in his life. Myself and my family have spoken to him before about getting help but he just laughs as he thinks we are the ones with the problem. The main thing I'm worried about is my parents, they've done everything in their power to help him but he just won't leave them alone, they've both been very sick recently with heart problems which I would imagine is due to stress that he puts on them. I don't really want to go into details about what he has done, he's still my brother.

Has anyone got any advice on how to get someone into John of God's or somewhere like that to get help against their will?

Any advice would be hugely appreciated.

Lux23

Has he been diagnosed as schizophrenic officially? It is possible to approach a doctor and say that you feel your brother needs to be sectioned but in order for this to happen I think they need the signature of two doctors and a family member. It may even be three doctors. I am sorry I can't be a any more help but I would recommend contacting a help group that deals with family members of people with conditions like this, they should be able to point you in the right direction.

Oh The Humanity

He will need to be sectioned. A doctor will have to decide he is a danger to himself and/or others.

sam34

firstly, if he hasnt been seen by a doctor, how did you suddenly find out he is schizophrenic? thats a pretty major diagnosis to attribute to someone.

if you have significant conccerns for his mental health, and he wont get help himself, there is a procedure to be followed.

you need to speak to his GP, or the family GP if he doesnt have one.

tell your doc whats going on, and ask can you make an application to have him assessed under the mental health act. there is a form you will have to fill out (the gp will have it). you have the right to make this application, so the gp cant refuse that.

next, the gp will have to see your brother. if he wont go to the surgery, the gp will have to see him at home. the gp has no choice but to see him within 24 hrs of you making the application.

if the gp agrees that he warrants psychiatric assessment, he then fills out a form. if he feels the issues are minor, or not due to psychiatric problems, or due to alcohol and/or drugs, then he will refuse to fill out the form. this is his right and duty. there are specific criteria laid down in law about who can and cannot be certified.

if the gp thinks he needs assesssment, as i said he fills out his form. your brother then needs to be brought to the local psych unit. generally, it is up to the applicant (you) to do this. if you cannot get him there, the local unit may send an escort for him, but this could take time to organise, and not every unit do that.

once he is at the psych unit, he will be seen by a consultant psychiatrist within 24 hrs and they have the final decision regarding whether he is detained or not. they may say he doesnt meet the criteria for involuntary detention. in that case, there is little else you can do. if they feel he does meet the criteria, then he will be kept there, the first admission order is valid for 21 days, after that it may or may not be renewed.(he may also be discharged before the 21 days)

long story short - get onto the family gp and make an application for assessment under the mental health act (assuming you are over 18. if not your parents /sibling who is over 18 will have to do it)

hope this helps

good luck

cleo?

That's brilliant, thanks a million Sam34.

Basically my brother's been living with different people cause even though my parents bought him an apartment he moves around alot (he's very very bad with money). He ended up staying with an old friend who happens to be a psychiatrist so once I found that out, I rang the friend and asked what he thought and he agreed immediately. He had witnessed a couple of incidents that had convinced him of my brother's illness. (Due to various circumstances this friend can't admit my brother, I've already tried that avenue).

I'll get onto the family GP today, I'm pretty sure my brother doesn't have one and even if he did he'd never tell me.

The really sad thing is that even if he gets medication he might not be ok but I suppose it's one step at a time. Thanks again