If they are unwilling to go to the hospital, call 911. Calling 911 can feel hard. You can explain to the 911 operator that you think your family member is experiencing mental health symptoms, in case a mental health crisis response team is available.
NSW Mental Health Line: 1800 011 511 (24/7)
At the hospital the person can be assessed and sent to the nearest inpatient unit if they require hospitalisation to a psychiatric ward.
“Snap out of it!”
This is one of the most commonly used and most dismissive comments of all. Telling someone to “cheer up” or “let it go” sends a damaging message: that mental illness is something to be ignored, endured, or both.
Psychosis can also be triggered by traumatic experiences, stress, or physical conditions, such as Parkinson's disease, a brain tumour, or as a result of drug misuse or alcohol misuse. How often a psychotic episode occurs and how long it lasts can depend on the underlying cause.
The 72 Hour Rule
In most states, an involuntary psychiatric commitment cannot extend beyond 72 hours without a formal hearing. This 3-day period allows patients to receive basic medical treatment, recover from psychotic episodes and hopefully understand the need for further help.
You still have the right to visit. Visiting arrangements depend on the hospital, so check visiting hours with staff or on the hospital website. In some cases the patient may refuse visitors, and hospital staff will respect the patient's wishes. If you're unable to see your loved one, staff should explain why.
Come to the conversation with compassion
“What do you think about the idea of going to therapy?” can be a great conversation starter. Using “I” statements, such as “I'm concerned about you,” may help them feel less lectured or blamed. They also may be more likely to listen if they don't feel attacked.
The 1800 011 511 Mental Health Line is NSW Health's 24/7 statewide phone service which links people with NSW Health mental health services. It is a free service.
Being sectioned means being admitted to hospital whether or not you agree to it. The legal authority for your admission to hospital comes from the Mental Health Act rather than from your consent. This is usually because you are unable or unwilling to consent.
You may be sectioned if you or someone has raised concerns about your mental health. You should only be sectioned if: you need to be assessed or treated for your mental health problem. your health would be at risk of getting worse if you did not get treatment.
This means that you can be discharged from the section and leave hospital, but you might have to meet certain conditions such as living in a certain place, or going somewhere for medical treatment. Sometimes, if you don't follow the conditions or you become unwell, you can be returned to hospital.
To be sectioned, three people (an Approved Mental Health Professional [usually a social worker] or nearest relative and two doctors) must agree that the person is suffering from a mental disorder (e.g. schizophrenia, psychosis or bipolar affective disorder) and needs to be detained for assessment or treatment, either ...
Feeling sad or down. Confused thinking or reduced ability to concentrate. Excessive fears or worries, or extreme feelings of guilt. Extreme mood changes of highs and lows.
People with psychosis typically experience delusions (false beliefs, for example, that people on television are sending them special messages or that others are trying to hurt them) and hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that others do not, such as hearing voices telling them to do something or criticizing them).
Admission. Admission to a public psychiatric unit is usually through the emergency department, or the hospital's community mental health team. For a private hospital you need your GP (family doctor) or a psychiatrist to arrange admission for you. If you need an interpreter, the hospital can organise this for you.
Yes, you most certainly can. You can be hospitalized for severe anxiety if your symptoms have become so intense that you are unable to function at work, in school, or in another important area of your life.
All decisions to order involuntary commitment and treatment under the Australian Acts now require, at a minimum: the person to be suffering from mental illness (or a condition with similar manifestations), a nexus between that illness and serious risks to health and/or personal or public safety, the provision of ...
The typical course of a psychotic episode can be thought of as having three phases: Prodrome Phase, Acute Phase, and Recovery Phase.