Category Archives: Mental Health

Articles relating to mental health are in this category. Typically they will fall into one of two categories. Yours, or your child’s. Yes, your mental health is important.

David is worried

David called.

I could sense the worry in his voice.

The first thing he asked about was what goals he needed to have so that he could stay at his current location rather than being moved to the new facility.  Rather than going elsewhere, he would rather come home.

David is still too volatile to bring home.  We don’t know from minute to minute how he is going to be.  He can be good for a week or two, and then turn violent or aggressive with little notice.  He needs so much attention that they have one person staffing him.  They change this person roughly every three hours.  If that is the case, how could I possibly hope to handle him at home?

So we talked about goals.  I told him that he needs to develop his own goals.  I could offer advice, but ultimately the goals are his.

In the end, he came up with regroups.  A regroup is what he has to do if a situation escalates to the point where he is on the verge of being out of control.  He knows when that point is.  I explained that we hear in staffing how he has to be continually prompted about behaviors.  And to take regroups.  I told him that if he could take a regroup without prompting, and do it consistently, then we could work on other goals.

In the end, I fear that he was left with the impression that he was coming home.  Sadly, that isn’t the case, and it broke my heart explaining to him that he has to work his program before he can come home.

We have his monthly staffing on Monday.

On Thursday evening, i drafted an email to his social worker, and his care coordinator letting them know about our conversation.  I explicitly stated that we were not in favor of moving David.

A portion of the response that I received from the staff…

The main reason we want David to go to the other facility is because they can provide the low stimulus environment and we think that may be a key in treating him.

Note:  I substituted “the other facility” for the name of the facility that is recommended.

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Facility Transfer and Medication Changes

Today we had our visit with David.  He was uncooperative at first.  So mom and I explained to him that his transfer to a facility out of state is pending.

He asked us why.

So we explained that since he is not listening, not working his program, antagonistic to his peers and generally uncooperative, that the current facility wants us to transfer him to another more restrictive facility.

He said he doesn’t want to move.  For the record, we don’t want him to move either. More on that in a bit.

We asked him what he wants for Christmas, as we may need to celebrate Christmas early with him if the transfer goes through before Christmas.

His response broke our hearts.  “I want to stay here, I don’t want to move there.”

All in all, it ended up being a positive visit.  As we returned him to the residence, I explained to the staff what we had discussed with David.  I then told David I loved him very much, and asked for a hug.  He gave me one.  But not without some hesitation.

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I explained to staff that David was rather bouncy.  It was indicated to me that he has been edgy and more energetic recently.  It is worse when it is cold outside and they can’t be outdoors.  So I asked when the last medicine change was.  Late July early August.

David was born addicted to drugs.  As a result, any medicine has an effective period of no more than 90 days.  Sometimes less, sometimes more.  They are lucky that David has been good for as long as he has, especially since we are over 90 days.

I explained that we need to start changing his meds now.  Before behavior worsens.  It is the only way to get him to maintain any kind of stability.

I really dislike the fact that every time his behavior turns toward negativity, or more negativity than normal, I have to explain about the medicine changes.

Most of the treatment staff has been with David since he was placed there over a year ago.  So frustrated.

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Bed Available!

Today, we received notification from David’s current residential placement that there is a bed open at another facility.

Evidently, David has been accepted at this other facility, and we have to call them.

Now.  we haven’t made application to the other facility.

So I called the other facility and asked how they can accept David if we haven’t made application yet.

Waiting to hear back from them now.  It frustrates me that we can continually ask why he needs to be moved, the only thing that they say is that he needs more one on one staff and increased structure.

We are not in favor of his placement at any other facilities.  However, since David’s placement is parental, rather than judicial, we may not have a choice.  It isn’t safe to bring him home, and if the facility wants to, they could discharge him tomorrow.

David has abandonment issues.  How is moving him further from home helping?

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