why would mental health services make people calling for help wait up untill 2 days to evaluate? (Full Version)

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YourhandMyAss -> why would mental health services make people calling for help wait up untill 2 days to evaluate? (1/14/2009 6:30:19 PM)

See to me I am thinking if you're to the point where you know you need mental help and are ready to seek it, and you're calling the mental health line, why not get someone to do an assessment at the time of the call, not up to 48 hours later.

I guess they feel if you thought it was urgent you would of called 911, and not the county of mental health services?

No, it's not me who's calling either, All though I am sure there's quite a few on here who think I should lol.





Lynnxz -> RE: why would mental health services make people calling for help wait up untill 2 days to evaluate? (1/14/2009 6:30:54 PM)

Busy people?



YourhandMyAss -> RE: why would mental health services make people calling for help wait up untill 2 days to evaluate? (1/14/2009 6:32:35 PM)

Could be. The wait though is enough to drive an already batty person battier though, since it's the whole un known thing.
quote:

o
quote:

ORIGINAL: Lynnxz

Busy people?



Gwynvyd -> RE: why would mental health services make people calling for help wait up untill 2 days to evaluate? (1/14/2009 6:38:19 PM)

Maybe they are hoping for fewer patients?

Seriously if a person is in that big of a crisis they should be "baker acted" or taken into a crisis center for help.

The mental health community had it hard before the budget cuts. Our Govt never wants to pay or help with mental health services. ( one of my friends at church runs a large mental health center, and I have heard about their issues and woes)

There may be a 2 day wait to talk to an councilor to try to determine what the needs of the client is. But if it is an emergancy it would be silly to wait.

Crisis centers will take in people at the door who are a danger to themselves or others. They figure someone in the clients life will be smart enough not to wait and see for a couple days.. but take them in if it is indeed that urgent.

Gwyn,
Who is in school now to be a psychologist.



YourhandMyAss -> RE: why would mental health services make people calling for help wait up untill 2 days to evaluate? (1/14/2009 6:47:56 PM)

so I guess my statement was right? They figure if you're calling in and not going directly to 911 or having people drag you in, you're not critical.

We aren't in the critical part, He's just been so stressed and had such a hard time he realizes he needs help, and wants to seek help before it gets to the critical stages.


It's a pity that the government never wants to help that sector of people. You should be able to get competent care mental or physical regardless of weather you can pay or not.
quote:

ORIGINAL: Gwynvyd

Maybe they are hoping for fewer patients?

Seriously if a person is in that big of a crisis they should be "baker acted" or taken into a crisis center for help.

The mental health community had it hard before the budget cuts. Our Govt never wants to pay or help with mental health services. ( one of my friends at church runs a large mental health center, and I have heard about their issues and woes)

There may be a 2 day wait to talk to an councilor to try to determine what the needs of the client is. But if it is an emergancy it would be silly to wait.

Crisis centers will take in people at the door who are a danger to themselves or others. They figure someone in the clients life will be smart enough not to wait and see for a couple days.. but take them in if it is indeed that urgent.

Gwyn,
Who is in school now to be a psychologist.



KatyLied -> RE: why would mental health services make people calling for help wait up untill 2 days to evaluate? (1/14/2009 7:11:17 PM)

quote:


It's a pity that the government never wants to help that sector of people. You should be able to get competent care mental or physical regardless of weather you can pay or not.


Care is available.  Instant gratification, not so much available. 



YourhandMyAss -> RE: why would mental health services make people calling for help wait up untill 2 days to evaluate? (1/14/2009 7:14:37 PM)

When Daddy was looking for health insurance outside of his work place, nobody would give him health insurance because he has pre existing mental problems.

Infact it's pretty much that way with all   insurance places we called if you have pre exsisting health problems or mental problems they won't insure you is what bout 10 insurance groups told us. IF you can find insurance, which is very unlikely you'll pay a very serious amount,  vs if you had no pre exsisting conditions and any old body would insure you.
quote:

ORIGINAL: KatyLied

quote:


It's a pity that the government never wants to help that sector of people. You should be able to get competent care mental or physical regardless of weather you can pay or not.


Care is available.  Instant gratification, not so much available. 




ExKat -> RE: why would mental health services make people calling for help wait up untill 2 days to evaluate? (1/14/2009 8:02:37 PM)

  I don't know about California, but Massachusetts offers free/low-cost health insurance to uninsured. I'd be somewhat surprised if California didn't offer something similar. If your Dom is in a bad situation and needs medication to control his mental health, those would be available at a free clinic. I'm sure he'd find someone to talk to there as well, although I don't know if he could set a standing appointment kind of thing. Emergency rooms never turn people away, so if there was a real, pressing need, he could be seen to. I'm sure there are also community organizations that offer mental health care of a sort: I hear often that clergy do a lot of that.

::shrugs:: Most folks have to wait several days to see a doctor if they've got a festering wound or a hacking-up-your-lungs cough that's not quite bad enough for the ER. Waiting two days doesn't seem all that bad.



YourhandMyAss -> RE: why would mental health services make people calling for help wait up untill 2 days to evaluate? (1/14/2009 8:08:50 PM)

I am lucky I can usually get an appointment to see a doctor, or my doctor within the very same day I call, depending on how busy the place is. If not the day I call with in two days.

2 days isn't a horrible wait, not necessarily no. I would of thought though that if you did call in and said you needed help for mental problems including a long history of illness, they wouldn't wait two days to call back.

However like I guess and someone else said, if it was critical ya wouldn't be calling and waiting around.

Hopefully the county mental health place will tell him about any places or programs that would help.

quote:

ORIGINAL: ExKat

I don't know about California, but Massachusetts offers free/low-cost health insurance to uninsured. I'd be somewhat surprised if California didn't offer something similar. If your Dom is in a bad situation and needs medication to control his mental health, those would be available at a free clinic. I'm sure he'd find someone to talk to there as well, although I don't know if he could set a standing appointment kind of thing. Emergency rooms never turn people away, so if there was a real, pressing need, he could be seen to. I'm sure there are also community organizations that offer mental health care of a sort: I hear often that clergy do a lot of that.

::shrugs:: Most folks have to wait several days to see a doctor if they've got a festering wound or a hacking-up-your-lungs cough that's not quite bad enough for the ER. Waiting two days doesn't seem all that bad.



redwoodgirl -> RE: why would mental health services make people calling for help wait up untill 2 days to evaluate? (1/14/2009 8:56:44 PM)

Be happy you only have to *wait*.
Where i came from, mental health was closed weekends and holidays and if you had an issue,
you went to jail because there was no where else to put you.



califsue -> RE: why would mental health services make people calling for help wait up untill 2 days to evaluate? (1/14/2009 10:28:49 PM)

I think you are in Sacramento County. I worked for a time with DHHS and the outpatient mental health clinic. There is a process to go through. 48 hours is nothing. If the person is a danger to themselves then you can have them committed for 24 to 48 hours however, once they are released it is generally another 48 hours before you will get an appointment. Don't blame the county...if it is all through Medicaid it is all government regulated and there are many people making the call and a ton of paperwork to complete and few who actually show up to their initial appointments or stay though the entire process for a mental health evaluation which takes approximately 2 hours. Even then once they do the initial phone eval and paperwork it can take 2 weeks or longer to get an appointment with the mental health outpatient clinic depending where in Sac County you reside and what program he gets referred to. This is due to the number of patients and the number of doctors available.



wandersalone -> RE: why would mental health services make people calling for help wait up untill 2 days to evaluate? (1/15/2009 1:14:00 AM)

Did the mental health service ask him any questions on the phone?  Often services here do a quick triage/assessment by asking a few questions before determining if a person should be referred to the emergency department rather than waiting to be fully assessed.



bamagirl4u -> RE: why would mental health services make people calling for help wait up untill 2 days to evaluate? (1/15/2009 3:34:44 AM)

I take Paxil for anxiety and depression, so I know it is important NOT to run out.  I hope your Dom gets help soon...good luck...



SavageFaerie -> RE: why would mental health services make people calling for help wait up untill 2 days to evaluate? (1/15/2009 4:09:46 AM)

It just depends on the county and state you live in, I was trying to transfer from one mhmr to another in Texas.  After waiting 2 weeks for an appt I went in and despite my disability and SSDI I got turned down flat. Reason: They didnt take people that suffer from Severe Anxiety disorder. Checked with Medicare in that area and every dr that took medicare was part of that clinic. I got stuck going to a regular dr that refused to give me the medication that helps the anxiety and would only treat the depression.  I finally found a dr in a town further down that would see me and get me back on proper medication.

I just got damn lucky here in nyc. Started calling the medicare list for nyc and stated calling, ended up getting a dr one block away that is the MEdical Director for a hugs Rehab and Nursing center. Been with him since May and since I see him outside the realm of the center he has yet to bill 1 cent to medicare or me.  In other works pretty much pro bono. I do get aggravated with some of his lets try this antics sometimes but I cant bet the price. I call him directly at his home in the mornings and he will generally see me that afternoon or the next.

Relying on State and county service are a crap shoot as to how they handle things.  If nothing else have him go to a regular md generally they can help get him started on meds until he sees a mental health professional. They also tend to have samples that will get them through.



RainydayNE -> RE: why would mental health services make people calling for help wait up untill 2 days to evaluate? (1/15/2009 5:31:35 AM)

alot of the places who have help lines are heinously understaffed as it is, and with the help line, well... i think more people are likely to call that than they are to come into the office? so there are probably LOADS of calls for the few people who are there working, especially at 24 hour ones.
i dont think they make people wait because they don't care, i think maybe sometimes they just don't have the manpower.



tsatske -> RE: why would mental health services make people calling for help wait up untill 2 days to evaluate? (1/15/2009 6:05:34 AM)

Years ago, we had the WORST EFFING insurance.
The WORST thing they did was their mental health care. You had to Use ONE clinic - I used to say, the clinics motto, hidden somewhere in back in a staff room away from patient's prying eyes, HAD to be:

If you are not going to commit suicide today, you do not need help.
If you are going to commit suicide today, you are about to save BCBS SO MUCH MONEY over the expected course of your lifetime.




CalifChick -> RE: why would mental health services make people calling for help wait up untill 2 days to evaluate? (1/15/2009 8:15:50 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: SavageFaerie
Been with him since May and since I see him outside the realm of the center he has yet to bill 1 cent to medicare or me.  In other works pretty much pro bono.


Well, let's hope he just has an incompetent billing staff and is really NOT doing pro bono work as a Medicare provider to a Medicare patient.  It's considered a kickback because you aren't paying your copay, therefore, he is enticing you to obtain more services.  (yes, I know, it's a circular argument, since Medicare isn't paying anything either, why do they care, but it's the government).  And please, if you care about this doctor, don't send any of your friends there, because that compounds the issue since he is giving you free care, you are sending referrals his way.


Cali



KatyLied -> RE: why would mental health services make people calling for help wait up untill 2 days to evaluate? (1/15/2009 8:31:58 AM)

As far as complaining about a pro bono doctor...perhaps it's a case of getting what you pay for.



AMaster -> RE: why would mental health services make people calling for help wait up untill 2 days to evaluate? (1/15/2009 8:35:27 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: YourhandMyAss

See to me I am thinking if you're to the point where you know you need mental help and are ready to seek it, and you're calling the mental health line, why not get someone to do an assessment at the time of the call, not up to 48 hours later.

I guess they feel if you thought it was urgent you would of called 911, and not the county of mental health services?

No, it's not me who's calling either, All though I am sure there's quite a few on here who think I should lol.





Budget Cuts.



Rainfire -> RE: why would mental health services make people calling for help wait up untill 2 days to evaluate? (1/15/2009 8:51:59 AM)

YHMA, you've gotten some good responses here. As Califsue has said, 48 hours is not that bad to wait, it could be much worse. If someone is in such a critical situation that they need immediate care before then, it's crisis mode and they need to go to the hospital. Or if they are threatening to hurt themselves or others, they also need to go in. Someone once told me that a lot of situations didn't get to this point overnight, it took time to get there. And it will take time to get the help and healing. Even if the meds were received today, it still would take time for them to start working. Most depression medications take anywhere from 2-4 weeks to really start being felt in the body.

The important thing is to stick with it and be patient. If help is needed, it's needed. It's a chemical imbalance in the body that can be treated with medication and perhaps counseling. I know you mentioned that your partner doesn't want to accept any aid but sometimes, we need to. And if he's been working, then he's been paying taxes for just that sort of thing. We're not talking about him mooching off the government and cheating, but accepting the help he needs.

And while helping your partner, remember to take care of yourself too. Eat healthy, maybe soak in a long bath and relax, remember that your health is important too. You can't help your partner if you're sick.

Good luck!

Rain



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