Tuesday, April 14, 2009 regine asks

Q: My sister is schizo and refuses to take meds. What can we do to get her to accept treatment

My sister has been schizophrenic for 15 years. She used to take meds and took care of herself in Europe. Last Christmas, she managed to fly to the states and has been staying in a moter because she does not want anything to do with the family.

My sister is using my mother's credit card and bank account to pay for her motel while she is staying here indefinitely. She needs to go back to Europe, but refuses to do so.

How can we stop her from robbing my mother blind and not having her end up on the street ?

Can we force her to take meds or be hospitalized ?

Answers (2)

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Christina Bruni

4/15/09 4:03pm

Hi regine,

You are not alone, so many family members have the same problem you do.

In the U.S., the criteria for forced treatment, as sunfire told you, is that the person is a danger to himself or someone else. There is one thing that you will not want to hear but it could happen. You cut your sister off your mother's checking account, the sister can't pay her rent or motel fee, and things get worse. She is then a danger to herself because she can't care for herself. There is always the route to go of exaggerating the danger she is to herself, even now, even if she's not yet a total danger to herself. Is she showering? Eating? Sleeping? Try to find out as much as you can so that you can make the case that she is a danger to herself, before things get out of hand. Unfortunately, because of the anti-psychiatry contingent who expect civil liberties at all cost, there's a strong resistance to forced treatment in the U.S. Also, in the U.S., getting someone into a hospital and treated with meds is hard to do. Often, it gets worse for the person and his or her family before it gets better. You do not want to hear this, of course.

One option is to offer to pay her airfare for her to go back to Europe.

I recommend in cases where the person doesn't believe he or she is sick, that the family members read the Xavier Amador book, I Am Not Sick, I Don't Need Help which coaches family members about how to talk to a loved one to help them decide to get treatment. By the way, you are community member #23 that I've recommended this book to. So many people ask questions about loved ones who refuse to take meds that I have been keeping a running tally of the number of times they write in and ask this same question.

I hope your sister is able to return to treatment soon.

Regards,

Christina

sunfire

4/14/09 10:54pm

My opinion I am not familiar with the whole situation. Your mother needs to come to the states your mother may be able to persuade her to get medication. Then hopefully she could help her get into a low-income apartment. Then help her (take proof of disability from a doctor to the Social security department) help her get on SSI. If she will not get on meds herself if you can prove that she is a threat to herself or others and sometimes other details can get her a certain time of involuntary treatment. Sometimes I agree with involuntary treatment other times I do not. She has a right to have someone talk to her to see if she is delusional or paranoid or a threat to herself or others. You should talk to her and tell her you love her and you want her to ____________ What ever you want to say. But your mom seems like the best solution. I hope the best for her, Hopefully you and your mom and your sister can figure out the right solution. If not, if she needs treatment hopefully you and your mom will figure out the best solution. Sometimes people gets angry and depressed when they are being forced against their will. If you can persuade her it would be good.

Q: My sister is schizo and refuses to take meds. What can we do to get her to accept treatment

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