Fuck. If a signature landed on any paperwork, you could be completely screwed.

Note to self and anyone else who's listening: Never, never, under any circumstances, sign anything unless trust isn't an issue. Especially when it's a cop or a psychologist handing you a pen.

This coming from a recovered aspiring psychologist.

rayj wrote:Fuck. If a signature landed on any paperwork, you could be completely screwed.

Note to self and anyone else who's listening: Never, never, under any circumstances, sign anything unless trust isn't an issue. Especially when it's a cop or a psychologist handing you a pen.

Again, in this situation it wouldn't matter. The person in question would have been kept under "observation" either way. If the person signs, it's an indication, at the very least, of the awareness of "their needing help." To not sign is to deny there is a problem which the doctors will not take kindly to.

Basically, she has to calm down, and tell the doctors whatever they want to hear. It's the only way. It's one of those situations where fighting will only make things worse.

Very, very true. Good luck in dealing with this.

Again, thanks everyone
We'll see how long she's in theer for. If they won;t let her out in the next few days a lawyer is my best bet I suppose

I don't know how much good it would do, but you could look into getting a patient advocate for her, as well as/instead of the lawyer.

ipitcher wrote:I don't know how much good it would do, but you could look into getting a patient advocate for her, as well as/instead of the lawyer.

what's that exactally?

That sucks Marsupialized. There have been some bouts of mental illness in my family. It can be very difficult to deal with.

That being said, if I were you, I would focus your energy on trying to make sure she benefits from her time there. There are professionals there who might be able to help her cope with future episodes, deal with her suicidal tendencies, monitor and adjust her medications etc.

A big part of getting better is learning to understand the illness and allowing people to help you when necessary. If she only sees you fighting the situation, she will fight too. The stress of it all might make her worse, not better.

Sorry. Someone to look out for her and her rights. This role is probably filled already by someone at the facility where she's staying, but it's probably in her best interest to get a third-party advocate working on her behalf.

Marsupialized wrote:

ipitcher wrote:I don't know how much good it would do, but you could look into getting a patient advocate for her, as well as/instead of the lawyer.

what's that exactally?

Each State has a protection and advocacy agency that receives funding from the Federal Center for Mental Health Services. Agencies are mandated to protect and advocate for the rights of people with mental illnesses and to investigate reports of abuse and neglect in facilities that care for or treat individuals with mental illnesses. These facilities, which may be public or private, include hospitals, nursing homes, community facilities, board and care homes, homeless shelters, jails, and prisons. Agencies provide advocacy services or conduct investigations to address issues that arise during transportation or admission to such facilities, during residency in them, or within 90 days after discharge from them. Contact:

Equip for Equality, Inc.
20 North Michigan, Suite 300
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-341-0022
Fax: 312-341-0295
Toll-free: 800-537-2632
TDD: 800-610-2779
E-mail: contactus@equipforequality.org
Internet: www.equipforequality.org/headerg.html

scroll down to the middle of this linked page, there are downloadable .doc's you might need

http://www.equipforequality.org/resourc ... ytopic.php

I just talked to her and she says that the paper she signed was a 5 day release form and that they can't hold her anymore than 5 days.
Does this sound right to anyone?