Need psych help in Texas--No insurance

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Nov 9, 2005

MHMR in the phone book.

Mental Health Mental Retardation - it's a state agency, look under state gov't.

That's what they do. Although, they don't usually provide residential treatment if you aren't an imminent suicide/injury to others risk. But that's the state's definition of emergent and their budget doesn't permit non-emergent in-facility care.

But they can provide her w/ treatment.

~faith,

Timothy.

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Nov 10, 2005

What city does she live in? She can always go to JPS Pysch ER (Ft Worth) and they might admit her to Trinity springs.. There psych hospital.

lucianne · Nov 10, 2005

There should be some sort of community mental health agency where she can go for evaluation and/or outpatient treatment and possible crisis stabilization.

nurseroofe · Nov 13, 2005

I hope your person already got some help; if not MHMRA is a good place to start. If she is suicidal call the crisis hotline in her city or go to the ER. Unfortunately unless she is suicidal or poses a danger to hermself or others inpatient care will not be offered. It is a shame that people with mental ilnesses do not have access to good care unless they have insurance or plenty of money.

AggieNurse2B · Nov 15, 2005

Well, she's burning herself with a hot glue gun. She has about 6-7 ugly, round burns on her forearm where she's burned herself. I would think that would be enough to convince someone that she's a danger to herself, but apparently not! Such a shame. She's a good girl, but she has no family to speak of and she's trying to help raise her two little nieces. One would think that there would be help for her somewhere. More proof that money talks, I guess!

LoriAlabamaRN · Nov 16, 2005

There are crisis hotlines, as well as church organizations. I know someone who was broke and needed counseling, she went to Catholic Social Services and they didn't charge her a dime.

I will pray that your friend finds peace.

Lori

Thunderwolf, MSN, RN · Nov 17, 2005

She can call 1-800-SUICIDE in the US.

PMHNP10 · Nov 20, 2005

Well, she's burning herself with a hot glue gun. She has about 6-7 ugly, round burns on her forearm where she's burned herself. I would think that would be enough to convince someone that she's a danger to herself, but apparently not!

Without a doubt, she is a danger to herself, but her behavior is not suicidal rather impulsive/self-mutilation (without knowing the whole story, perhaps that's what keeps her out of an inpatient facility). Having said that, I'd think that if she presented to an ER, they'd have to do a psych eval which would at least start the process of setting her up with some resources for insurance/psych care.

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Nov 26, 2005

... if she presented to an ER, they'd have to do a psych eval which would at least start the process..

My thoughts exactly.

Good luck!

GalRN · Nov 27, 2005

I hate to give this advice... Don't like to tell people to lie, but if it was me or a member of my family, I'd go to the ER and say the "magic words". Meaning she has to threaten to kill herself... the burns are evidence of a serious problem, but they can ignore it if her life isn't "in danger".

AggieNurse2B · Nov 28, 2005

Yeah, I kind of thought the same thing. We had to do that with my brother once or twice, although we weren't just "saying" it in his case. My friend is getting help--She finally found a hospital that would take her long enough for them to re-adjust her meds and get her on an even keel again. I just want her to be monitored a little more closely, so I pray that this hospital she was in will do just that.