Amistad

[Che Gookin]

The other person to contact, Blombrowski, I'm fairly certain his field ties into this sort of thing and might have useful advice based on actual experience.

Didn't Oscar send you the group link?

[none-ya]

Searched all over fb and found nothing

[blombrowski]

While I'm sure the adolescent treatment facility is more steeped in the philosophies of NATSAP members, as far as your friend goes, I'm guessing he's going to experience a fairly typical adult psychiatric hospital with follow-up day programming at La Amistad's outpatient programs.

[none-ya]

I believe he's not going to be an out patient.

[blombrowski]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but typically an involuntary hospitalization is only allowed for up to 72 hours in Florida.  I can imagine that your friend is likely to be placed in a position where he's involuntarily hospitalized, and then discharged to outpatient treatment coerced under the threat of rehospitalization.  So no, he wouldn't be immediately placed in outpatient care, but if it's the insurance company that's going to pay for hospitalization, he's not going to be hospitalized that long, and as La Amistad has the full range of psychiatric services, I imagine they will self-refer to their outpatient clinic/day treatment program.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_Mental_Health_Act

[none-ya]

I'm not sure how that's going to work. La Amistad is aprox. 100 miles from their home. And I don't believe he's welcome at home. So it will probably lead to some sort of involuntary placement.

To Oscar, please check again the FB group address. I still can't find it. So far you're the only one that has. Thanks.

[blombrowski]

I don't know what the adult housing system is in Florida, but I imagine he will be hospitalized then the social workers at La Amistad will try to get him approved for SSI and Medicaid, and try to find him housing, if his parents are kicking him out of the house.  Your friend could refuse all of this, and after the 72 hour hold, sign him self out into homelessness.

[none-ya]

Well he's is getting the boot from home. If they can help him get SSI and medicaid, that would be a good thing. I guess it has to be better than commitment to a state hospital. Right?

[none-ya]

And if he has one of his panic attacks while there?

[blombrowski]

Yes, I'm going to say better than the state hospital.  I can't vouch for how well he'll be treated, or how good the treatment will actually be.  But he's an adult.  I'm going to take a shot in the dark, and guess he smokes a lot of pot to deal with his overwhelming anxiety, and his parents aren't too thrilled to have him at home because of that.  

As long as he's being treated for mental health issues as opposed to substance abuse issues, I think he'll be ok, the hospital has all of the incentive to not screw him over too much.  And if he has a panic attack, it's not like they're going to send him to the state hospital over a panic attack.  

To conclude, I don't think he's being sent to a "program".  He's being sent to a psychiatric facility that could either be terrible or decent.  Unless his parents are going to pay out of pocket for the program and the hospital tries to keep him there involuntarily, if it's really that bad he'll be able to sign himself out.

[none-ya]

Again he's not much of a druggie. This is a person who is just chronically malcontented. Never happy, never smiles. Just like his mom. Always fighting with Grand Pa and Grand Ma. And they're not gonna' put up with it any more. I understand their frustration.  We'll just see how it goes. Thanx everybody

[Che Gookin]

Update? how is your friend doing?

[none-ya]

He's doing 30 days and from there I have no idea. Homelessness is a real possibility.  Going home is more than likely out of the question.