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Post by bosoxbeth on Sept 25, 2015 23:56:13 GMT
Sad and scary situation.
A close friend of my daughter, age 17, attempted to hang himself. He was hospitalized last night, thank God, and will now get some help. Evidently, he has been "depressed" (not sure if clinically diagnosed as such, but this is the language my daughter used) for several years throughout high school. He has a rocky relationship with his mom, but in the time I have known him, I never would have guessed that he was in such deep pain...never would have predicted he would have attempted suicide. Our family is shaken up by the news and are reeling thinking of what his parents and sister are going through now, not to mention the boy himself.
I was wondering if any of the Peas have experience/knowledge of "what happens next." He spent last night in a community hospital in the suburbs, and was transferred today to a larger one in NYC. For how long does such a patient typically stay in the hospital? (If there is such a thing as "typical") What kind of follow up might be expected moving forward? This was evidently his first and only suicide attempt and he had begun "talk therapy" this past summer, though has not worked with a psychiatrist until now, presumably, in the hospital.
I am just thinking about this family a lot. I am very fond of this boy. He has been a close friend of my daughter for a while, has been to our home many times, etc. I am so pained for his family. Praying that he gets the support and expertise he needs and he has the courage and ability to move forward after this terrible time.
Thanks for listening, and for sharing any thoughts you may have.
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MDscrapaholic
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,375
Location: Down by the bay....
Jun 25, 2014 20:49:07 GMT
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Post by MDscrapaholic on Sept 25, 2015 23:57:49 GMT
I am sorry to hear this. I hope he gets the help he needs.
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Post by bc2ca on Sept 26, 2015 0:23:10 GMT
There is no one size fits all treatment plan. The length of his hospital stay will depend on the results of his evaluation and/or the family's insurance. He may be diagnosed as clinically depressed or ?, prescribed antidepressants and therapy (individual and/or familiy).
{{{hugs}}}
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Post by bosoxbeth on Sept 26, 2015 0:51:56 GMT
Thank you for your replies. Appreciate it.
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lesley
Drama Llama
My best friend Turriff, desperately missed.
Posts: 7,181 
Location: Scotland, Scotland, Scotland
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Post by lesley on Sept 26, 2015 1:26:05 GMT
I'm so sorry your daughter is going through this with her friend. As bc2ca says, there is no standard treatment plan. So much depends on the individual. My DD was hospitalised for 11 months after her first suicide attempt, but that was because she made about twenty more while she was in hospital. Her diagnosis was also much more serious than we had originally believed, and her response to treatment was very poor. However, there were other kids in the same Unit who were inpatients for maybe two or three weeks. I hope this boy gets the treatment he needs and is able to work on his health. |
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Post by bosoxbeth on Sept 26, 2015 15:52:25 GMT
Thank you Lesley. Wow. I hope and pray your daughter is doing much better now. Sounds like you went through hell. Hugs.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 19, 2024 17:33:58 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2015 16:01:32 GMT
It all depends on insurance and how much money the family makes. For most, once insurance runs out the child has to be released because they don't have the money for private pay.
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LeaP
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,939
Location: Los Angeles, CA where 405 meets 101
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Post by LeaP on Sept 26, 2015 17:07:37 GMT
My older daughter's best friend was hospitalized for about 90 hours. I am not sure of the exact details because the explanation of 14 year olds is often muddled, but it seems that part of the requirement for her release was that she have a therapist. She is much better now and has seems to be coping well with a tumultuous start to high school.
Keep a close eye on your daughter. In my daughter's friend's case she was self harming before the attempt. She told my daughter, my daughter told me and I passed the information on to her mother (who sat on the information too long). It was really scary and stressful. My daughter became very anxious and tried out self harming on herself a couple of times. We got my daughter a counselor and she is fine now, but I underestimated the fallout from her friend.
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anniebygaslight
Drama Llama
I'd love a cup of tea. #1966
Posts: 7,394
Location: Third Rock from the sun.
Jun 28, 2014 14:08:19 GMT
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Post by anniebygaslight on Sept 26, 2015 17:12:15 GMT
Poor boy. I am sorry to hear it. I hope he gets the help he needs.
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Post by k8smom on Sept 27, 2015 3:29:30 GMT
I'm not sure either but hopefully he gets the help that he needs. I lost a sister to suicide and it was horrible. I'm deeply saddened that mental illness has such a social stigma; I think that keeps a lot of people from seeking treatment they so desperately need. And I'm sorry that we live in a society that makes us feel as though we have to be perfect all the time; this message causes a distorted sense of reality.
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Post by jackie on Sept 27, 2015 7:57:40 GMT
I had a teen relative who attempted suicide. The first 24 hours were spent in a medical section of the hospital where they were kept in physical observation. They met with Behavioral health people while they were being treated medically. After that they were transferred to a psych ward in the same hospital for teens who harmed or attempted to harm themselves. They were continuously evaluated . This kid stayed about a week I think, no more than that. Depending on the how the teen is doing, how serious the attempt was, etc., depends on how long they stay. Then they usually follow up with outpatient treatment of some kind.
I'm so glad this child was unsuccessful in his suicide attempt. I hope he gets the treatment he needs. He'll be in my thoughts
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Post by gailoh on Sept 27, 2015 13:06:54 GMT
What I also find sad is that insurance companies care about the dollar sign instead of letting the hospitals and doctors do their jobs of treating the person.
I so hope and pray this young man gets the help and love he so needs.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 19, 2024 17:33:58 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2015 13:58:56 GMT
DS was an in-patient in a psychiatric treatment hospital for children and teens for ten days. Ongoing weekly care for a year.
It cost us $18000.
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Post by Outspoken on Sept 27, 2015 15:15:43 GMT
Some states have a mandatory hospital stay after a suicide attempt. My daughters friend was in the behavioral unit for a week and that was after she was released from the medical hospital (she took pills and had liver and kidney damage). She was also self harming before the attempt. She is in therapy and on medications. She is a beautiful, bright and very artistic young lady. But, she doesn't see that in herself.
Best wishes for help and recovery for your friend and for peace for all involved.
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Gravity
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,229
Jun 27, 2014 0:29:55 GMT
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Post by Gravity on Sept 27, 2015 20:26:57 GMT
The boy may be admitted to an inpatient psych unit, then discharged to a day program that is sometimes called partial hospitalization.
It would probably be a good idea to find a therapist for your DD to talk to about her friend's attempted suicide.
My DD's best friend hung herself the summer after their freshman year. Even with a therapist, my DD still struggles at times.
((HUGS)) to you all.
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Post by quinlove on Sept 27, 2015 20:46:30 GMT
These stories break my heart. My dgs attempted suicide twice at age 12 and talked about it at age 14 recently. Both times he was sent to teen units of major hospitals. There was some follow up care but not the best in my opinion. I believe it was mostly situational problems. This is a constant worry for me.
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Post by pivibird on Sept 27, 2015 21:38:32 GMT
I work in a Pediatric ICU. We see way too many suicide attempts, it just breaks my heart. My hospital has no child Psych helpers. We treat them medically until the are stable and released medically. During their stay, they are evaluated by on or more of the agencies in our city that prove mental health services for children. The evaluator determines if that child meets criteria for inpatient or outpatient services--I think insurance is usually factored in. Once they are medically stable, they are discharged to the appropriate facility if inpatient or home if they will receive outpatient treatment.
I'm sorry about your Dds friend. I will pray for him
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Post by bosoxbeth on Sept 28, 2015 6:21:03 GMT
Thank you everyone. The stories are so painful. The friend of my daughter is in the hospital still (third day) and it's unclear what the exact plan of action will be. My heart breaks - just breaks for this family. And I am worried about my daughter as well and the toll it may take on her psyche. Teens are so hard. I miss the days when my kids were small and there was nothing we couldn't fix!!
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Post by anonrefugee on Sept 28, 2015 12:51:59 GMT
bosoxbeth I agree, some things were so much simpler when they were younger! Hope your young friend is getting the help needed and this is just a blip.
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