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Extended Leave

Extended Leave

Argh! I'm so pissed!

I found out today that I wasn't discharged from the hospital, simply released to the community but still under the mental health act... Yeah, I'm still committed. If I refuse my meds, I'm gonna be taken to the hospital again. The reason I'm saying all this is because I don't want to take my injection anymore. My doctor said too bad when I told him this. My nurse was more understanding but she stands by that decision.

The fact I'm under the mental health act is horrible because that means I don't have a lot of rights, and cops can take me to the hospital any time they want, and my doctor can order anything and if I refuse I get taken to the hospital.

I'm going to call Legal Aid tomorrow and request for a lawyer to battle this decision. I'm so upset.

12 replies

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In response to: Extended Leave

Re: Extended Leave

I would be pissed too @Snuchu

Were you advised of these conditions?

It seems wrong to me that the doctor can order anything - whatever change of medication - and you are an adult - and surely have the right to say what you will and will not take

But - and this is important - I know you have some chemical problems - and I don't know what that injection is - and probably wouldn't - so for now - it had better be go along with the rules as they are set out for now and see Legal Aid asap and get advice

And while you are of legal age - you are still very young - and young people can be taken advantage of easily - do you have a friend or relative who is older and can speak for you

I don't know the whole situation so I might be completely wrong - but forcing people to take medication seems wrong too

So let's know how things are going - this is not easy for you

Decadian

In response to: Re: Extended Leave

Re: Extended Leave

I'm proud of myself for deciding to fight this the right way, instead of running away or something of the sort.

@Decadian, I wasn't advised of the conditions when I was "discharged" from the hospital. Nobody even told me.

The injection is an antipsychotic. I noticed that we can't mention medication's names in here, but yeah. I have schizoaffective disorder so yeah, I have chemical problems. Schizoaffective is both bipolar and schizophrenia, in case you didn't know that... And I'm sorry if I mentioned this before, I suck at memory stuff, haha.

I don't trust anyone enough to speak up for me, and I'm fairly smart enough to understand everything. I stand up for myself.

I think it's wrong, too, but sometimes doctors have that kind of power.

In response to: Re: Extended Leave

Re: Extended Leave

Yes @Snuchu

You are doing the right thing and not running away - that would only make things worse and you do know that

I understand bipolar disorder - I was misdiagnosed with that after my son died - I am still pretty cross about that so I identify with your feelings that other people have taken control - I was helped to get of the medication by "quartering down" - a psychologist helped me - and it was wonderful when the world came back

But I don't understand schizophrenia - I have never had the need to - but I daresay that you would need to have your medication for that - and wise to continue - you seem to have a bunch of chemical disorders - and it would be my suggestion to stick with that - mainly because I know so little about it

However - yes it does suck that you weren't told about losing certain rights under treatment - I don't know the situation - but having some doctor in charge of all of this would be frustrating

Good on you too for doing all this for yourself - this is a good sign

And I wish you the best - keep in touch

Decadian

In response to: Re: Extended Leave

Re: Extended Leave

@Decadian, I still think, if it came to desperate measures, I would still run away...

But you're right, I should do this the proper way this time.

In response to: Extended Leave

Re: Extended Leave

It might be different in Canada @Snuchu but trying to fight the Mental Health Act in Australia is virtually impossible. I tried through legal professionals some years ago and got nowhere.

It's far better to be on a community order under the MH Act than an involuntary treatment order. At least you can live your life in your own home.

I can understand why you need to fight this decision. I do hope you can find a lawyer who will represent you on a pro bono basis otherwise you might find it extremely expensive.

Godd Luck! I'll be thinking of you. 💕

In response to: Re: Extended Leave

Re: Extended Leave

isn't it funny how mental health is the only illness where treatment can be forced upon us??? ok funny maybe not the correct word but you get the point

heart disease cholecterol diabetes fuark even cancer they can choose not to take meds

but we do and fuark me dead

In response to: Re: Extended Leave

Re: Extended Leave

@Kurra@Snuchu@GonePirate

I had no idea that this so-call mental disease was so archaic that people can enforce treament upon anyone

In my last post I said I consider a day wasted if I haven't learned something - oh wow - I did not know this

Yes - we can refuse to be treated with cancer and we are likely to die from it - and at my age - I would not suffer chemo - but even so - some diseases make a person more ill - eg diabetes needs to be treated seriously so - with asthma - I know from experience I couldn't wait to be treated - I had my own nebuliser and sometimes I would get to use one at a pharmacy.

And smoking - shikes - that causes cancer and it's legal and anyone's choice over the age of 18 -

I wonder why this is - that people who have so-called Mental Illness have their rights taken from them as if the disorder has taken their mind with it - no wonder there is a stigma

Really - I thought that had passed - that a to have someone committed as insane for their own protection was only in order for 48 to 72 hours - and even if they needed more help that person was cast out into society

Please tell me more - this really blows me apart - just over 30 years ago I was trying to have my son assessed for whatever caused his uncontrolable and criminal behaviour but no one helped - he died in prison

There is something crazy going on here

Decadian

In response to: Extended Leave

Re: Extended Leave

You're right @GonePirate

It's all about the so called divide between the body and the mind/brain. Interesting how it's OK to let someone who is brain dead to die but treatment is enforced for those with MI. Nevertheless you've only got to read the circumstances required to invoke the MH Act to understand why - all the 'or may' make it pretty possible.
The only thing that must be met without 'or may" is that you are refusing treatment. It's easy enough to twist that one to succeed.

In response to: Extended Leave

Re: Extended Leave

Compulsory treatment orders can continue for as long as needed. Initially an Emergency Order will be issued which encompasses the 72 hours you mentioned. This is to provide time to make a full assessment of the situation within the hospital setting. At this point someone can be released without further issues. Frequently however the Emergency Order will be converted to a Compulsory Treatment Order which also means you will be detained in hospital. Extensions usually go to 1 month then reassessed, 3 months, 6 months etc.

I hope this helps you understand a little more @Decadian

My eyes are struggling to stay open so I will try visiting the land of nod once again.

In response to: Re: Extended Leave

Re: Extended Leave

Thanks Kurra

I have to go to bed soon myself - it is cold here tonight and oi! it's tomorrow already

Thanks for that info - it makes sense to me - and yes - that "or may" does play into word games (semantics) - where people can make a sentence mean what they want it to - "or may" not.

Perhaps - people who are a danger to themselves need to have a period of being in a secure environment - if that's what they want - and maybe they will find that helpful - and I also know that people can be a danger to themselves and will go ahead regardless of the situation -

People who are a danger to society get themselves in prisons - and maybe they are mentally ill

I really do have to go to bed soon - but I will be taking my computer to bed with me to find out more about this -

It seems to me that if a person gets out of "balance" - and everyone does at times - is in danger of a label - and it might be the wrong label

But thanks for the info

Decadian

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