Expert: Libby Bonner - 1/1/2007

Question
I need some help for my daughter, Beth, She is 24 years old and diagnosed with bipolar at the age of 21. She has made 3 attempts at committing suicide, the first at 17 years old. She does not have insurance now and she or her family can afford her doctors visits for prescriptions or her prescriptions. She was on Siriquil(?), which did help regulate her personality, the only draw back was she was tired all the time. She has since ran out of her meds and the local doctor that she could at least go to for a prescription can not even see her for 3 months. Meanwhile she is in a downward spiral. She was in a automobile accident and was hurt, boy friend broke up with her and now she will be losing her very good job. I am scared for her. I know how dark everything appears when she can't see way out of her situations. Even through my telling her everything is only temporary she can't see it. What can I do to help her? Is there help for her out there? My heart breaks so for her. Please if you know of any assistance We are open to all.  

Answer
Answers to these difficult questions are best found locally, since state and local laws and resources differ so much.

Are you in an isolated area?  How far from a city of 50,000?  How far from a large metro area?  Much of the better help is available from larger areas.  --- Do I also assume that the prescribing doc is not a psychiatrist?  She does need a psychiatrist....

Seroquel and tired all the time.  Most psych meds have bothersome side effects, and this is a common one.   --- I'm confused about meds and docs. WHAT DOC PRESCRIBED THE SEROQUEL?  Can that Rx not be renewed w/ a phone call to whatever doc??  And - if you could get a prescription renewal tomorrow, would there be a means to pay for it?

But - for the long term.  I would get in contact w/ the state NAMI office and the local NAMI affiliate [www.nami.org] to ask: how and where to get doc and Rx treatment inexpensively.  Attend NAMI meetings as well, if you can, to find out the experience of others.

Here are some solutions for you.  She must apply for disability.  If/when accepted, she will probably get SSI and Medicaid....but there will probably be a considerable lag time.  IF she is turned down, re-apply, and then appeal if necessary.

Look up Human Services in your phone book or that of the nearest large town.  Call any/all to ask about her needs.
Esp call United Way.  And call any "free medical clinics." They cannot prescribe, but they have donated meds and sometimes, or maybe most of the time, you could get scripts filled there.

See also if she qualifies for any drug mfrs' program of free meds....income-based, so if she lives w/ you that could be a problem depending on total family income.  See www.pprax.org

Community mental health centers [maybe under Clinics in the phone book] usually have the lowest cost pschiatrists [and other services that may be quite valuable to your daughter in adjusting to her illness, etc.] but they do not fill Rx.

If I think of other answers I will write again, and I hope to hear how things are going as you search for solutions.

Re "telling her things are only temporary" - she of course can't see it because her symptoms include discouragement and despair.   I hope you will buy a copy of a book by Woolis, called When someone you love has a mental illness.  You will find much assistance re living w/ and encouraging your daughter, communicating w/ her, etc.  Having this book on hand is one of the best things families can do, for their loved one and for themselves:  you will feel [and be]so much more effective after reading this.  But it is a book to keep, and I do, always, advise people to buy it.

Good luck and thank you for writing.