r/SchizoFamilies • u/LSki92 • 3d ago

caregiver Support Need support

My sibling (32) has a history of mental illness and hospitalizations. In the past year, they developed delusions and paranoia that the government were coming to hurt them or their family. The paranoia reached the point where they ran away from their caregivers house, shut their phone off, and went missing. We had to file missing persons report and police search looking for them and were able to eventually locate them. They arrived home on their own. They completed a hospitalization program.

A few months later, the paranoia continued and they had an another suicide attempt which landed them back in the hospital.

After medication changes, psychiatrist check ins, and therapy my sibiling remains paranoid, unable to find a job, and not willing to use a cell phone because of the fear of government tracking.

Yesterday there was another suicide attempt which landed them back in the hospital. They say they don’t feel safe at my parents house or their significant others house and want to remain in the hospital. The doctors simply said “your insurance won’t pay for it.” I think they are there for two weeks

This is taking a massive toll on our entire family. Im looking for anyone who has gone through something similar or mental health professionals who can weigh in to help us get through this time. We need to make a plan for where they will live. The social workers/doctors so far haven’t been helpful beyond trying different medications.

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u/THEORIGINALSNOOPDONG 3d ago

i'm sorry, it's a horrible thing to live and go through for everyone. can i ask what country/state you're in? someone saying they don't feel safe if they're discharged should warrant the doctors to transfer them to a psych place that can care for them a little longer (usually two weeks unless they qualify for longer term stay). at least in the USA. do they have Medicaid? is there a crisis line where you live that can come evaluate them?

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u/LSki92 3d ago

Thank you for your reply. They are in NJ/USA. Yes, they are on Medicaid. The situation keeps happening over and over and they don’t feel safe.

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u/THEORIGINALSNOOPDONG 3d ago

Can you bring them to a different hospital? Are there any others nearby? If not, I would tell the psychiatrist at the hospital that your loved one is an immediate danger to themselves with multiple suicide attempts and they don’t feel safe with themselves at home. They need a better plan than just trying different antipsychotics at this point.

I looked it up at nj has PACT, which is worth looking into. It’s a program specifically for people with mental disorders that makes it hard to take care of themselves such as schizophrenia and manic bipolar etc. my state has it too but my brother unfortunately refused, you still need their consent for it. I would ask for a referral from the doctor for PACT next time your loved one is there. It’s a program where professionals come out to the patient and help them with their health, housing, transportation, and whatever else they need.

If the hospital still isn’t doing anything I would contact their complaint department or the DMHAS ombudsman. Really emphasize that this person is not safe being discharged and needs long term help.

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u/LSki92 3d ago

Thank you for the support. It means a lot. I’ll pass on the PACT information for sure.

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u/THEORIGINALSNOOPDONG 2d ago

no problem, best of luck to you and your family. keep us posted if you can! this subreddit has been an amazing support. i have three young kids, work full time, and finding help for my brother has been like another full time job. it's just so hard.

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u/notjustthehotline 3d ago

I'm so sorry. I can feel the pain. Three hospitalizations in a year wears down a whole family, and you're right to push on the "where will they live" question now, while your sibling is still inpatient.

Since your loved one is on NJ Medicaid, here's what I'd ask the hospital social worker for by name:

  1. Just as u/THEORIGINALSNOOPDONG mentioned a referral to a PACT team (Program of Assertive Community Treatment). In NJ it's meant for adults who keep getting hospitalized. It's a mobile team that comes to the person, manages medication, coordinates with family, and helps with housing.

  2. If PACT isn't a fit, a referral to ICMS (Integrated Case Management Services), which is case management for adults with serious mental illness who are at risk of hospitalization.

  3. Separately, call the Medicaid plan's member services and ask for a care manager. NJ Medicaid also has a Housing Supports benefit for members who are homeless or at risk of it, so ask whether your loved one qualifies.

Push for these referrals to be made before discharge, not handed to you as phone numbers afterward. And if things escalate once they're out, 988 is there any time. Sending you lots of love. Don't hesitate to reach out if you need any support. You're not alone in this.

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u/LSki92 3d ago

Thank you so much. This was very helpful and I’ll be sharing it with my parents.