Fighting for Answers | Author Archives | Page 4David's Father, Author at Fighting for Answers

North Dakota Mental Health Crisis

I am part of the Mental Health Advocacy Network in North Dakota. It is a coalition of advocates and agencies that is working to change the way mental health is viewed. To erase the stigma that comes with being mentally ill. In this video, it so eerily describes things that mirror what has happened in our family. It could very easily be David’s mother or myself in the role of parent, and David could easily be Garrett. These are real people telling their stories. North Dakota sponsored an interim study of the mental health study and that report was delivered in 2014. Known as the Schulte Report, it spoke volumes about the crisis in services here. Little has been done to resolve the crisis. We continue to see services cut. We continue to have to fight for care. Parents continue to struggle to help their children. People with mental illness

Compliance – Continued Medication Issues

Compliance – Continued Medication Issues We are in week two of David’s not getting his medication as prescribed. Thus, he is out of compliance, though it appears to be a systems issue. Today, I contacted the detention unit, asked to speak to the medical person, and was transferred to him. When I asked what the issue was, the nurse said “he is not in compliance.” I asked, if he was refusing to take the medication, and rather than providing me an answer, he said “who is the probation worker?” (I use probation worker as a loose descriptor for the person involved in David’s case.) I explained who we are working with, and gave the nurse that information, as well as contact information for the worker. The nurse then said “thank you” and ended the call. So I called and left a message for the probation worker. I also called our

A complete lack of communication – Medication Issue

Complete lack of communication – Medication Issue How hard is it? David has six prescriptions. Two medications are available over the counter – the others aren’t. Since the staff at the juvenile detention center where David is currently being housed had an issue with his originally supplied medication, we supplied them with all new prescriptions from the pharmacy and brand new bottles of the over the counter medications, both were sealed. Included were two prescriptions for the over the counter medication that the pharmacy gave us on behalf of David’s psychiatrist. Yet. They are still claiming an issue with his medication. So he isn’t getting all of his medication. One would think that the nurse would check with David’s doctor. With me. Or the doctor who prescribed the medication. With the advocate. With David’s lawyer. Or the Care Coordinator. With Juvenile Court. or maybe the Developmental Disabilities Program Manager. So