Depression Fighter

Self help for depression fighters

Depression Fighters

Mental health laws in the U.S.

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If you have been diagnosed with a mental illness (or have a loved one that has) it’s important you understand your rights. This article will help.

Mental health laws in the U.S.

In the United States, mental health laws are governed by state.  In most regions there are three types of court-ordered treatment that vary by name. Here is the basic premise for each type:

Mental health laws in the U.S.1. Emergency hospitalization: This is for individuals dealing with an immediate mental health crisis.

The person’s rights are suspended by a law enforcement agent or a Doctor. They are placed on a temporary 72-hour hold and must enter into hospital for an assessment. They can only leave if they are deemed fit to do so by a registered Psychiatrist or Doctor.

It is often referred to as a psychiatric hold or a pick-up.

2. Inpatient civil commitment: When a judge orders a mentally ill individual to remain in hospital after the emergency hospitalization period (72 hours) it is called an inpatient civil commitment.

The person must meet that state’s legal criteria for mental illness in order to be held in hospital against their on choosing and beyond 72 hours.  In all states this criteria differs.

3. Outpatient civil commitment: This is an agreement between a state and an individual allowed to live in the community.   The patient must adhere to a mental health treatment plan.

There are approximately 45 states with outpatient civil commitment laws, though the standards differ.

Other names for outpatient treatment are assisted outpatient treatment (AOT), outpatient commitment or mandated outpatient treatment.

To find out about the particulars of laws in your state, click this link to visit a PDF form with state particulars: State regulations on court-ordered mental health

Understand and empathesize so you can help

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If you’ve been dealt the job of taking care of a friend or family member that isn’t mentally healthy and/or suicidal you might have one of these thoughts:

“Why do I have to take care of her?”

“He’s being so selfish.”

“Why can’t she just get out of bed. Doesn’t she get how difficult this is. I have to do everything.”

“I feel like I should stay home and watch him. But, I have to go to work…I have a life to live too!” 

“I wish she would just get better” 

“I can’t deal with this anymore!”

Your thoughts might be a version of one of the above. You could be pissed off at the person or the situation. Or, sad that it’s happening. You might feel powerless to what you are dealing with. You might resent your loved one. You might be having trouble taking care of your own life.

What your dealing with isn’t easy and it sucks.  It’s could be one of the most difficult times you’ll ever have to deal with in your life.  And, these thoughts are normal to have.

BUT – these thoughts won’t empower you. And they won’t help your friend.

Shifting your context: 

The thoughts above suggest that life right now is happening to you and you don’t have any control.  It may seem that way.  What’s happening to your loved one is out of your control.  While some circumstances of life are out of your control, the way you deal with them will relate to how you feel and the results you produce.

An easy way to get into control of the situation (any life situation for that matter) is to shift your context. Because context is decisive.  For example, If person A throws a ball to person B, person B will make the decision that 1) The ball is going to hit them, 2) They need to catch the ball.  Thought 1 will produce a result of person B ducking to take cover from the ball. Thought 2 will have person B attempt to catch the ball.  Nothing is different. It’s still the same ball, it’s just viewed a different way.

If you are entertaining any or a version of the thoughts above, you are viewing the situation from your situation only. It’s having you feel in more pain than power.  So, the easiest way to get in power is to view it from the situation of what your loved one is dealing with.

And, just to be clear.  Here is what you need to know:

  1. They are in far more pain than you are. Dealing with depression is physically debilitating. Not in the way a broken leg is debilitating. It’s almost harder to deal with depression because often people don’t understand.
  2. They feel completely alone. If your loved one has no one to relate to, they likely feel very alone. Though there are many people that deal with depression and suicide, it’s not widely talked about. And, it’s sometimes very hard to talk about, which is why he stays quite. If he feels understand it will help him explain what he’s dealing with and get it out versus being inward. If you haven’t had depression or been suicidal you have NO CLUE.  So, don’t try to pretend what he is dealing with. It’s okay to say: “I can’t imagine what you are dealing with, but what I read, or what I know is…”
  3. Your loved one doesn’t want to be like this but they can’t help it.  Your loves one is not lying in bed all day because they want to. They are lying in bed because a) they are in pain, or b) they are avoiding life because they haveno clue what to do to get help with either issues or physical symptoms. So, he’s not doing this to you on purpose.
  4. They are not stupid and/or completely helpless. In most cases, people with mental illnesses are very able to understand, speak and express what they are dealing with. They can easily learn new behaviors. They just need help. Many people who kill themselves actually don’t truly want to die. They feel they have no choice.
  5. They are not being selfish on purpose. When you’re sick you can’t physically and mentally be there for your friends and family members. So, if your loved one is completely absorbed in their own life, they are not being selfish on purpose. They are sick.

Sometimes, and especially if you’ve never had depression or been suicidal yourself, it’s really hard to empathize.  But the minute you understand what he is dealing with you can really help.  You can be grateful that he’s come to you for support and get you are the one who trusts enough for the role. You can get into action and produce fantastic results.  Think of a time when he helped you. You owe it to this person to save them.

You can’t be empowered if you point the finger. So be on his team and get in action to help you both out of the situation as fast as possible.

 

Suicide support: What you need to know about helping your loved one

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If you’re taking care of someone who is depressed or suicidal there are 3 things you need to know about supporting them effectively.  These steps will help you help them and stay mentally fit while doing so.

Suicide support: What you need to know about helping your loved one

Suicide support: What you need to know about helping your loved one#1. Get mental health support for yourself: When you fly on a commercial flight most airlines have flight attends that walk you through safety procedures prior to lift off.  They include how to use your oxygen mask and parachute. All of them advise that when flying with a baby or small child that the guardian must equip himself or herself first with safety gear before helping the child.

It’s the same with helping a loved one through suicide or depression. You need to be mentally stable. You need to understand how to effectively help and communicate with that person. You need to seek counsel yourself to deal with the emotions that come up from you.

You also need to make sure you clear yourself of all the mental crap that’s going on for you. If you start crying when they need strength, you won’t be able to provide them what they need.

Where to go for help? Align yourself with an accredited therapist your trust. This could be a life coach, psychotherapist, social worker, suicide prevention specialist, psychologist or psychiatrist. Many workplaces also offer this kind of support. Ask your employers about mental health benefits.

#2. Make choices for them: Whether you like it or not, you need to appoint yourself as the decision-maker, the health advocate, for your loved one. You can do this with permission, or silently take on the job without it.

Either way, depending on his mental state his judgement could be off of what he needs. Use your judgement. Ask others what they think. Ask professionals what they think.  Then, make intelligent decisions that are in line with getting him help.

Go with them to appointments.  Speak on their behalf when they can’t. Call the shots. In some circumstances they don’t have to like what you are doing.  All your actions need to be in line with what’s best for the patient (your loved one) and how to help save them from making a mistake they can’t take back like suicide.

#3. Never leave someone who is suicidal alone.  If you are concerned about your loved one or they have said to you that they feel suicidal, do not leave them alone.  This doesn’t mean it’s your job to watch them. The easiest way to get someone into the care they need is to call 911.  At a hospital they will have access to immediate care from professionals.

If they are currently working, you can contact their employer or insurance provider and find out what resources are available.

If you live in Canada, you can file a Form 2.  This temporarily restricts the rights of your loved one for 72 hours. A police officer will take them away and bring them to a hospital where they will receive a psychiatric evaluation before being permitted to leave hospital.

Need immediate support? Click here to use our Ask An Expert feature. You will receive a response within 24-hours with actions you can take from qualified mental health experts.

What you need to know about suicide

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Who is most susceptible to suicide?

People who consider suicide are dealing with Major Depression. They experience suicidal thoughts and feelings as a result of emotional pain from either life circumstances, biological malfunctions, or a combination of the two.

The major depression that’s linked to suicide can happen to anyone.  No one is exempt. Which means, suicide is not about a moral weakness or character flaw. When life becomes too difficult either from circumstances a person can’t control or from physical pain (which can be neurological) it’s only a logical train of thought to start considering suicide.

What causes a person to think about committing suicide?

Many variables contribute to an individual’s decision to end his/her life.  They can range from factors such as the loss of a loved one, childhood abuse or other forms of major trauma, to serious physical illness or major life changes.  These occurrences can lead a person to feel completely overwhelmed and unable to cope.  Without proper support from community, a person will start to think about suicide and may eventually choose to take their life.

At what stage of life is a person most susceptible?

Seriously considering suicide can happen at any stage of life.  Though, children can have depression, a person isn’t likely to think about suicide until their teen years. Suicidal thoughts can happen anywhere from age 16 to senior years.

The most serious cases are teens and middle-age men.  When a person in either of these categories says they are thinking about committing suicide get help immediately. Don’t wait. Teens can attempt suicide as a call for help and end up killing themselves. Middle-aged men, on the other hand, are planned and deliberate.  When they no  longer want to live they take immediate action.

Can suicide be prevented?

Suicide is 100% preventible.  Considering suicide at one point or another is actually quite normal. Seriously thinking about and planning for suicide is more serious, but people who deal with this can completely reverse the way they feel in a matter or moments to months. There are treatments that can help with the Major Depression that leads to suicide.

If you’re suicidal what should you do?

Go see a doctor. Get a second or third opinion.  Get a formal diagnosis and do your own research and interviews with family members to ensure its accuracy.

Once you have an accurate diagnosis start a treatment plan. You should research all your treatment actions before you choose to undergo what’s been advised.  Make sure you evaluate your treatment with your doctor ongoingly to ensure it’s working effectively.

The personal actions you can take that will impact your mood are to eat healthy, non-processed food involving all food groups and get regular fitness. You also want to ensure you social regularly, take time for yourself and work a daily job that satisfies you. If you are not happy with a component of your life, create a plan to make changes immediately.

What are the treatments methods for someone who feels suicidal?

Treatment could be one or a combination of the following:

  1. Medication
  2. Psychological therapies
  3. Learning and incorporating new healthy life choice: Eating a well-balanced diet, exercising, working, socializing, relaxing

 

When your loved one gets a diagnosis

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If your friend or family member has been recently formally diagnosed with a mental disorder, by a qualified physical (or multiple physicians if they’ve gotten more than one opinion, which they should) – a General Practitioner, Naturopathic Doctor, Psychologist, Psychiatrist – they will be experiencing one of the following:

Relief / elation.  She suddenly understands her symptoms and has the ability to deal with them.

Your thoughts might look something like: “Thank goodness I know what’s wrong with me, now I can get treatment and get better”

Fear of not being in complete control of your mood and behavior at times. Or, fear for the impact it could have on the rest of your life (ie. will it impact your work/ relationships/what people think about you). Or, you may experience fear from not fully know what to expect from your disorder.

Your thoughts might be something like this: “If I’m Bipolar 1, will anyone ever want to marry me? What if I end up cheating on them at some point. Can I even trust myself anymore”.

Anger that this is happening to you.

Your thoughts might be something like: “I can’t take this depression anymore! My life was great until this happened to me”

Sadness because who you thought you were is suddenly different. You may be upset that you need to make new lifestyle choices that you don’t necessarily want to make. Or, sad that dreams you had no longer seem possible.

Your thoughts might be something like: “I don’t want to live like this anymore. It’s too painful”

If you are experiencing any of the above emotional states, what you are feeling is completely normal. No matter how you feel, the following list of actions will assist you in dealing with this difficult moment in your life in a powerful way. Taking immediate action will help you establish control in a position where you feel like you have none.