Hello danielle,

The criteria, as it stands now in most if not all states in the U.S., is that a person has to be a danger to himself or others before he is forced to receive treatment on an inpatient basis, or even on an outpatient basis.

I urge you to read the book, I am Not Sick, I Don't Need Help by Dr. Xavier Amador who coaches family members on what to say to get their loved ones to take medication.

Telling your brother he's sick and needs the meds won't convince him, so it's best you read the Amador book and if not the book, the section in it that shows you what to do immediately to take action.

If you thought people were stalking you when they weren't, I bet it would be hard for you to accept somebody else's reality that a person wasn't stalking you.  That's how it is for the person living with schizophrenia.  If he doesn't think he's sick, why would he take the pills?

So I suggest you find the Xavier Amador book (I've read it, I can vouch for it; the author used its techniques successfully to get his own brother Henry to take the meds, even though Henry didn't think he was sick).

I wish you the best and write back if you feel the need.

Regards,

Chri

Also, Danielle, without breaking the confidentiality rules, there are things you can bring up with your brother's doctor to convey your concern that your brother isn't taking his medication.  You may want to attend, if you live in the US, the NAMI Family-to-Family 12-week course where you get all the info and also a list of questions you can ask the psychiatrist without breaking confidentiality.

At any rate, I would call the p-doc and say you're concerned your brother isn't taking his meds.

Call NAMI's national hotline at : (800) 950-NAMI (6264).

Best,

Chri