Blog

Deb Gleeson - 18 June 2017

How do you work out if you need to get help for someone against their wishes?

How do I know when I need to get help even if the person with mental illness doesn't want it?

This is a question that we spend quite a bit of time on in the Mental Health First Aid course. People always have questions about this. Here is our advice.

First principle is: always ask the person (even if they are in a psychotic state) first.

Second principle is: if you are talking about getting help always give options. Ask the person which option they would prefer.

Third principle: you may need to get help for someone against their wishes...HOW WILL YOU KNOW?

Fourth principle: IF THE PERSON IS A DANGER TO THEMSELF OR OTHERS, this is the only time you need to get help against someone's wishes.

Please remember you need to go through all of the other principles before you get to this.

How to ring for help…..

IF THE PERSON IS A DANGER TO THEMSELF

Call the ambulance on 000.

IF THE PERSON IS A DANGER TO OTHERS (or themself AND others). The police will call an ambulance if they think it is necessary.

Call the police on 000

1. The first operator will ask if you want Police, Ambulance or Fire. Tell them the service you want. They cannot listen to anything else.
2. When the ambulance or police operator answers they will first ask you for the address where you are.
3. They have a script which they must follow and if you deviate from it by trying to tell them something else, they will only come back to their script.
4. *When they ask you what the issue is say 'This is a Mental Health Crisis'
5. They will still have to ask you questions like, is the person breathing, conscious etc. ?
6. REMAIN CALM and you will get a chance to tell them your story.
7. The operators are trained 'triage' staff.
8. Sometimes they may put you onto someone with more Mental Health experience. This isn't deserting you. It's making sure you get the best help possible.
9. If you are ringing because someone else is having suicidal thoughts and behaviours or is a danger to themself or others, just tell the operator that.
10. Stay calm and just tell them exactly what is happening.
11. They will ask you if you are safe (that's them doing their job)
12. You can ask the operator for advice and they can stay on the line with you until the ambulance or police arrive.
13. They may offer this but if not you can ask them not to hang up.
14. *Ambulance and Police have certain responsibilities under the Mental Health Act. That is why it is important to tell them straight away that it is a mental health issue.
15. Some states have PACER which is a Police, Ambulance, Clinical Early Response for Mental Health issues.  

We hope this information clarifies some of the issues for you.

Remember Mental Health is everyone's business.