Mental health concern for friend

LegacyUser

Does anyone know anything here about the mental health act.?

I'm asking because I have got a friend who I believe to be in quite serious trouble who is self harming and she says it has come to the stage that she dosnt know how much further she will go!

She went to her GP and councellor the other days and said this but reckons that they were just dismissive.

I know I need to do something for her, but I don't know what...I am really worried for her well-being.

Does anyone know how she could get detained somewhere for her own good? what is the general criteria?

Stu

Hi. Really Sorry to hear about your friend. Hopefully with the link i give you, your friend can get the help she needs. The Website is ........

www.pieta.ie
Pieta House offers a specialised treatment programme for people who have suicidal ideation or who participate in self-harming behaviours. In particular, this centre targets people who have already attempted to take their lives. This service is free of charge.

Telephone: (01) 601 0000
Email: mary@pieta.ie



Why people self harm:

Self-harm is often used to relieve tension or anger. It might also be a way to let out feelings and deal with sadness, stress, self-hatred or depression.

You might not know why you self harm. If you talk to someone you trust (a doctor or counsellor, friend, relative or teacher) they can help you start to understand the reasons. It’s important to get help: people who self harm are at a higher risk of suicide.

Some of the reasons people give for self-harming:

* Not being able to show your feelings by crying or in other ways.
* Physical hurt takes your mind away from emotional pain like a death or family problems.
* Self-harm relieves stress from exams or work for a little while.
* You want to forget about being abused or bullied.
* Hating yourself and hurting your body in punishment.
* When you feel out of control, self-harm is a jolt back to reality.
* Self-harm makes you feel alive.
* Some people say that self-harm makes them feel real and in control. Instead of crying or screaming at someone, maybe you hurt yourself instead.

Nevyn

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Have a nice day.
Thaedydal

LegacyUser

hey there.. depending on what age your friend is (and where you live).. Dr. david mc namara in St John of Gods hospital is the best and most helpful psychiatrist iv ever seen.. that means something coming from me lol.. personally i have found anyone else iv seen, to be cold and unapproachable. hes extremely hard to get an appt. with and quite expensive aswell but well worth it.. hes very laid back and approachable, a nice down to earth guy.. the only approachable person iv seen in this field, personally. even interesting to talk to ! hes an adolescent psychiatrist however and if your friend is 18 or 19, or younger, id advise her to get a referal to him as quick as possible.. im bordering on being too old to see him and im actually sad about this! like i said, hes hard to get an appt with and costs quite a bit.. still in my personal experience the best help iv ever gotten, even if your friend lives away from dublin, i would still think hes worth the trip and cost, he has been that helpful to me.

LegacyUser

I would say getting your friend detained my not be the answer, but that's not for us to decide.

Another very empathetic and non-dogma fuelled psychiatrist was the lare Dr.Micheal Corry in Clane, who recently passed away, however his book co-written with Aine Tubridy is worth reading for anyone with mental health issues.

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9780717132836/Going-Mad

LegacyUser

Being entirely honest I don't think that she is getting the help she needs in councelling and I feel as if she is spirling out of control. Otherwise I would not of made the suggestion of denention!

She won't listen to anything I say, I have tried to encourage her to go back to her GP which she has done but she claims that he is dismissive and says that their is nothing much that he can do only keep an eye on her.

This is where I'm frustrated, I don't know exactly what I can do only be there! Do doctors not have a duty of care to there patients? I only know what she is telling me and I am fearful, if she is being as honest with me as she claims she is with her doctor they should he not know in some way how to help her.

As well as that what should I do know?

Stu

Worriedfriend, the best thing to do is contact Pieta at the above number i gave you and they will advise you on what the best thing to do for your friend.