Guest Author - Deborah Pipas

Navigating the healthcare system is difficult for a healthy individual. Navigating the healthcare system when one is mentally ill can be nearly impossible. When an individual has an undiagnosed serious mental health issue it can often take years to reach a place where one can find or accept the fact that help is needed.

For most mentally ill individuals awareness is illusive, often the mentally ill person does not realize that they are in need of assistance. The family and friends may try repeatedly to point out to the individual that they need to see a doctor or psychiatrist. However, when the patient is an adult medical assistance is unavailable until the patient places themselves into a situation that causes them to be incarcerated or hospitalized for their own safety or the safety of others. This scenario is often repeated time and time again by the individual spending time in jail and psychiatric units against their will.

Often the family is unaware of the problem. It is not uncommon to meet families that will make statements such as “I just don’t know what is wrong with Bill or Suzy, they just can’t seem to get their life together.” These individuals may spend years job hopping or being unable to hold down a job at all, they may have serious drug or alcohol problems due to their attempts at self medicating and it is not uncommon for them to be deeply in debt or become homeless because of their inability to make good choices for themselves and their families.

In other situations the family may be fully aware of the inability of the patient to care for themselves. The family may spend years and an untold amount of money helping the individual out of difficult circumstances. Unfortunately, the family cannot get the required treatment for their loved one because they do not have the authority to make decisions about medical treatment for an adult intervention.

These are very difficult times for the mentally ill person and the family. The mentally ill person is often incapable of realizing that the choices they make daily are the cause of their incarceration or hospitalization. Sometimes the mentally ill person believes they are being sabotaged by their family or friends. This belief often delays or totally stops them from seeking or accepting assistance that can help them the most.

All of this is physically and financially draining on all that are involved. A situation like this can go on for years until the mentally ill individual does something serious enough to get the attention of the mental health community. Insurance companies do not like to pay for the expensive treatment required by mentally ill patients. Our government assistance programs often require so much from the mentally ill that they are just not able to commit to follow through with all that must be done to get the medical assistance so desperately needed.

These types of situations can be heartbreaking and frustrating for the family of the individual in need of care. If you are a family member seek knowledge and support. There are many organizations today such as NAMI, NARSAD and The Treatment Advocacy Center that can offer support to the family as well as the mentally ill. Don’t spend another moment on this journey alone. Reach out to someone and let them know that you need support. Whether you are the family member concerned for your loved one, or the mentally ill individual the first step will be the hardest but it will be well worth the effort.