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Getting someone committed - system doesn't work

AminaMayContributor01 May 2016, 1:18 pm AEST

Getting someone committed - system doesn't work

<br>Hi Everyone,<br>My family is in a horrible situation with my brother. He's in is late 30's and has two young children, his wife left him late last year. Amongst ice, marijuana, other meds and alcohol he has an undiagnosed mental condition (we think) and he needs to be in a safe place. The problem is the system is not working and we've tried everything. He has been charged with stalking and recently violated his VRO. We are so worried that an 'event' of some sort is coming soon and there is nothing we can do. He's a master manipulator and liar and has/is threatening to harml members of our family and his wife. He has no insight and no sense of reality, it's really disturbing. We really need to get him committed but that seems impossible as well. Has anyone had any success getting someone committed? It hasn't happened earlier because the police, mental health people haven't witnessed 'the behavior' in person. <br>AminaMay

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In response to: Getting someone committed - system doesn't work

AminaMayContributor03 May 2016, 6:44 pm AEST

Re: Getting someone committed - system doesn't work

what is this CAT team?

In response to: Re: Getting someone committed - system doesn't work

-karma-Senior Contributor03 May 2016, 7:17 pm AEST

Re: Getting someone committed - system doesn't work

Hi @AminaMay

CAT stands for 'crisis assessment and treatment' team.

Crisis Assessment and Treatment Teams

These services operate 24 hours a day and provide urgent community-based assessment and short-term treatment interventions to people in psychiatric crisis. CAT services have a key role in deciding the most appropriate treatment option and in screening all potential inpatient admissions. CAT services provide intensive community treatment and support, often in the person’s own home, during the acute phase of illness as an alternative to hospitalisation. CAT services also provide a service to designated hospital emergency departments through an onsite presence.

http://www.health.vic.gov.au/mentalhealthservices/adult/

This is a Victorian service, but I believe similar services operate in others states.

In response to: Re: Getting someone committed - system doesn't work

ivanaSenior Contributor03 May 2016, 7:44 pm AEST

Re: Getting someone committed - system doesn't work

There was supposed to be "No wrong door" programmes implemented (in theory) but it is clear that in practice, many hospitals/mental health services are still treating mental illness vs substance abuse in "seperate silos".

http://www.mentalhealthcommission.gov.au/our-reports/our-national-report-cards/2013-report-card/thriving,-not-just-surviving/spotlight-issue.aspx

http://dovetail.org.au/media/16123/dd_guidelines_2011.pdf

In response to: Getting someone committed - system doesn't work

FatimaSenior Contributor03 May 2016, 10:10 pm AEST

Re: Getting someone committed - system doesn't work

Personally I think the family need to come together to put pressure on your brother and support your father when you decide to have your brother committed. It's a very emotional thing to do especially for a parent Once when I was overseas my brother had to fly down from Sydney to support my mother to call the CAT team from Royal Melbourne Hospital to have my daughter committed. Also I would suggest you downplay the drug and alcohol problem ( possibly not even mention it until he is hospitalised) and emphasise the mental illness component. That way your brother might have more chance of getting treatment in a psychiatric unit where it sounds like he belongs. Good luck.

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