Mental health/counselling advice please?

[Carthage]

Can anyone advise me what to do on two related subjects?

Firstly, and most importantly a friend has just called me to ask if they can come and stay as they're feeling suicidal. I'm not sure I'm equipped to deal with this, but felt obliged to agree to them staying. What should I do to help them?

Secondly, I've been thinking of seeking counselling for a while for things that have happened in my personal life, and patterns I see replaying themselves. How would I go about this?

Thanks.

[Cupramax]

Sounds like both you and your friend, especially your friend if suicidal, need to speak to a doctor. It may be hard but that's what they are there for.

[Carthage]

Cupramax said:

Sounds like both you and your friend, especially your friend if suicidal, need to speak to a doctor. It may be hard but that's what they are there for.

Will my local GP see my friend if they are resident in another area and not registered here?

[Cupramax]

Probably best to speak to the receptionist and say they are visiting, under the circumstances they should.

[SplatSpeed]

you can drop in at a hospital, (the head kind)

they will talk to you both and probably admit you(Section)

two weeks min stay in hospital

[Liszt]

If someone is feeling suicidal, you can go to A&E and there will be an on call pyschiatrist available.

However, what you should do is get a big box of chocs, a pot of tea and ask how they are feeling and why do they think that and what they intend to do to get better. The first step is them admiting it to you, the next thing is to get them in to the system and getting treatment.

[Carthage]

Ok, so I'm a little scared by SplatSpeed's suggestion that we'd both be sectioned for two weeks... I'm not mentally ill.

Do I need to be mentally ill to see a counsellor? I only wanted to sort out some behavioural patterns I have as a consequence of some relationships.

Good to know my GP will see my friend if they're in crisis, or A & E might help, too.

[UnderTheRadar]

Firstly if your friend is suicidal then it's Dr time straight away. Out of hours service if needs be. Do not try to councel them yourself - my very limited knowledge from 6 months part-time training in psychotherapy at a Uni taught me just enough to know that's it is very hard to do properly and much of it counter-intuitive, which is why I abandoned it as getting it wrong can be fatal and part-time wasn't going to cut it. The practice sessions taught me how hard it is - I had one person blow up on me for what seemed to me at the time a supportive comment but I had clearly waded in too fast or had missed some earlier indication that this was a sensitive area. You have to keep your own beliefs, prejudicies, and ideas of how to lead a life to one side because the aim is to help them lead their life in a way that works for them, not clone what works for you. That requires a level of objectivity that is hard to achieve with a stranger, let alone a friend. Also professionals tend to belong to a group of other therapists who can support each other - therapists hear a lot of very disturbing things - and you say already have some things you'd like to sort out yourself.

For yourself the GP is a good starting point - some GPs are better with this area than others. My information may be out of date but I think the NHS provide some sessions free.

Edited by UnderTheRadar on Wednesday 19th September 17:07

[goldblum]

Having your friend to stay is not a good idea as it sounds you are not in a particularly healthy place yourself. Look after #1.

Get yourself to a GP and make an appointment to see a counsellor. One should be able to see you quite quickly and you can discuss absolutely anything with them. A GP referred counsellor will not try to shrink you, rather suggest coping strategies/cognitive behavioural therapies.Good Luck.

[Carthage]

Goldblum - I agree but under the circumstances feel I have no choice. I could do with some help for me, before I'm much use to anyone else, I think.

UndertheRadar - thanks for the advice - I won't do any DIY psychiatry but instead will try to help them access appropriate medical help if needed.

I'm kind of worried about my friend driving here in their current emotional and physical state, too.

Edited by Carthage on Wednesday 19th September 17:37

[goldblum]

Carthage said:

Goldblum - I agree but under the circumstances feel I have no choice. I could do with some help for me, before I'm much use to anyone else, I think.

You need to cancel the friend, I'm afraid. Tell them you've come down with 'flu or something more contagious.

If you can't cancel then make a GP's appointment asap so you have taken the first positive step to sorting things out and just get the friend's visit out of the way.
Put yourself first.