Thank you Rob! Two weeks ago it seems my mother, who is ~5”2’ and has dementia at 77, was forcibly taken to the hospital. When I arrived from WA to see her in CO she had deep bruises on her arms and side and her pants had abrasion tears on the sides. I am deeply disgusted and at a loss as my stepfather watched this occur -believing it was in her best interest to get her care (there was no active physical emergency). I have my own forced “mental illness” treatment so despise seeing this being done to my mother but feel helpless as her daughter when she has a husband who seems to be the decision-maker. Any support or posts about this would be much appreciated (Probably need to go back and reread your book). I don’t want to alienate my stepfather who has been with us and her for 40 years. But I also do not want this ever happening to my mother again.
I'm sorry to heard that, Zelda. Yes, I do discuss these kinds of situations in my book. In particular, one of the most dangerous situations is a family with different positions on these issues, without any advance direction from the family member in question. I suggest that the three of you, and any other close family members, have a sit-down as soon as possible and start discussing scenarios and decisionmaking and what her own wishes would be in different situations. And write it all down for future reference.. There are some advance directive and psychiatric advance directive guidelines around the internet to help.
No. It will be mainly about the US and Canada, but I also intend to start including content related to the UK, Australia, Europe, and other countries, when I learn of interesting or important developments.
I spoke with Rob Wipond a few months back. It was a liberating and assuring conversation, as he has a wealth of experience and knowledge on the subject of coercion and force in psychiatry.
He validated my experience, which helped me take the courage I needed to face the police last weekend when a family member attempted to have me forcibly hospitalized for a 4th time following a disagreement regarding the trauma which along with life stressors (divorce and covid isolation), caused me to become ill in 2020.
Thankfully, I was not hospitalized on this occasion, but two of the three times I was hospitalized, it was not necessary (though I do believe my health would have been better served had I been assisted through a service such as a sotteria house rather than forcibly drugged and institutionalized - even the first time when I was legitimately ill).
Thank you for your kind words, Brighid. It was a pleasure talking with you. And I'm glad to hear you avoided being hospitalized against your will this time! And we definitely need more peer-respite and Soteria-like spaces for people to spend time safely when they feel in crisis.
Thank you for your work that is desperately needed and deeply appreciated. I wish this could be required reading for all med students, social workers, and psychiatric nurses.
Thank you for your work on this issue it is so badly needed! 🙏
Thanks for your support and encouragement!
Thank you Rob! Two weeks ago it seems my mother, who is ~5”2’ and has dementia at 77, was forcibly taken to the hospital. When I arrived from WA to see her in CO she had deep bruises on her arms and side and her pants had abrasion tears on the sides. I am deeply disgusted and at a loss as my stepfather watched this occur -believing it was in her best interest to get her care (there was no active physical emergency). I have my own forced “mental illness” treatment so despise seeing this being done to my mother but feel helpless as her daughter when she has a husband who seems to be the decision-maker. Any support or posts about this would be much appreciated (Probably need to go back and reread your book). I don’t want to alienate my stepfather who has been with us and her for 40 years. But I also do not want this ever happening to my mother again.
I'm sorry to heard that, Zelda. Yes, I do discuss these kinds of situations in my book. In particular, one of the most dangerous situations is a family with different positions on these issues, without any advance direction from the family member in question. I suggest that the three of you, and any other close family members, have a sit-down as soon as possible and start discussing scenarios and decisionmaking and what her own wishes would be in different situations. And write it all down for future reference.. There are some advance directive and psychiatric advance directive guidelines around the internet to help.
Just checking - is this only about the US for now?
No. It will be mainly about the US and Canada, but I also intend to start including content related to the UK, Australia, Europe, and other countries, when I learn of interesting or important developments.
OK, thanks! I'm from the US but living in the UK, and I have UK friends who track these things, so I guess we'll see what develops.
I spoke with Rob Wipond a few months back. It was a liberating and assuring conversation, as he has a wealth of experience and knowledge on the subject of coercion and force in psychiatry.
He validated my experience, which helped me take the courage I needed to face the police last weekend when a family member attempted to have me forcibly hospitalized for a 4th time following a disagreement regarding the trauma which along with life stressors (divorce and covid isolation), caused me to become ill in 2020.
Thankfully, I was not hospitalized on this occasion, but two of the three times I was hospitalized, it was not necessary (though I do believe my health would have been better served had I been assisted through a service such as a sotteria house rather than forcibly drugged and institutionalized - even the first time when I was legitimately ill).
Thank you for your kind words, Brighid. It was a pleasure talking with you. And I'm glad to hear you avoided being hospitalized against your will this time! And we definitely need more peer-respite and Soteria-like spaces for people to spend time safely when they feel in crisis.
Thank you for your work that is desperately needed and deeply appreciated. I wish this could be required reading for all med students, social workers, and psychiatric nurses.
Finally someone courageous enough to speak out. We need allies like Rob Wipond. Thank you, Rob, for all you do. 💕💕💕
Yes, PsychForce Report is very needed. Thank you so much for being here on Substack with us!