Assessments and confidentiality

[Too Shy]

Hey everyone. There's kind of two questions here, but I figured one thread would be easiest.

A couple of weeks ago I had a very very bad night involving the police, uni, and then hospital which resulted in an 'informal admission' for the weekend on the basis that if I didn't stay informally I would be kept in on a section. I was there from the Friday afternoon until Monday afternoon, and now I've been referred to the 'First Response and Intervention Service' in my city for an assessment with a social worker on Friday.

So my first question is does anyone know what a 'First Response and Intervention Service' do? I'm assuming the first session will be the same kind of thing as anywhere else, just background information and history, but apart from that I have no idea and Google doesn't come up with much, so just wondering if anyone has any experience of anything similar?

My second question is about confidentiality (for adults). I know that confidentiality can be broken in circumstances if you have a specific plan and say you're going to do something etc. But what does this involve? I am in a very bad place in my head sometimes recently and sometimes I am very close to just doing something. My counsellor know I'm struggling because I've talked about going with my mum etc a lot recently, and he's said to call him anytime I need him. But if I do have a bad night and phone him and say 'I want to kill myself' or I need to harm myself etc, what happens? Or if I tell him the thoughts/plans I am starting to get? Who is confidentiality broken to?

Sorry this is so long, hope you're all ok

[Soviette]

I've just Google'd that. This? I have no idea what it is. There's not much information on it, and we don't have anything like that around here (I think). It sounds like some kind of intensive counselling or therapy, but there's hardly any information on it. Can you phone them up and ask?
Sorry I'm not much help on that.

Quote:

My second question is about confidentiality (for adults). I know that confidentiality can be broken in circumstances if you have a specific plan and say you're going to do something etc. But what does this involve? I am in a very bad place in my head sometimes recently and sometimes I am very close to just doing something. My counsellor know I'm struggling because I've talked about going with my mum etc a lot recently, and he's said to call him anytime I need him. But if I do have a bad night and phone him and say 'I want to kill myself' or I need to harm myself etc, what happens? Or if I tell him the thoughts/plans I am starting to get? Who is confidentiality broken to?

If you just say "I want to/I'm going to harm myself" they really just ask more into it, and try to get you to be more specific. Like "how do you want to harm yourself?" to assess if it's serious or not. If you say you want to kill yourself, they'll risk asses that too. They'll ask if you have a plan to do it, a time, the means to do it, etc.

If you do admit to a time/place/method or if they get seriously concerned about your wellbeing (which I believe they assess on your history, how you sound, etc), I think they'll first tell you to call yourself/offer an ambulance or tell you to get yourself to A&E, if you refuse then they will say they have to break confidentiality to your Crisis Team. If it's an emergency they obv then call the Police and maybe an Ambulance on you.

It's a great idea that you want to reach for help, and you'll do yourself a lot of favours if you be honest with them. But if they do decide that confidentiality needs to broken, I think at that point it would be best to take their advice.. I think the last thing you'll want is a couple of police officers booting your door down to see if you're okay if you don't answer or are out. >_<

Hope this helped. I don't know this all from experience, but from what I've heard of others when helplines break confidentiality, etc. It's probably more personal if it's from your counsellor.

Hope you will be okay.
xxx

[NeverBetter]

*hugs* sorry t hear your not in such a great place right now if u need to talk im just a pm away

[tamobhuuta]

is it the same as the Early Intervention in Psychosis service? don't know if that'd make sense for you. as an adult, if you tell them you don't want certain people (parents, friends) told then they can't tell them. but they can tell other professionals in order to get the best help for you.

[random.swirls]

I wondered about the early intervention service as in my area it's known as the first team but to be referred there you would of been psychotic which I don't know whether you were. If not then I wonder if the team deals with people of presenting for the first time with a mental health problems - that is just a guess though!

Re. Confidentiality if you do ring your counsellor or he becomes worried about what you are going to do then they will ring someone as they have a duty to do this if you have a specific mental health worker then chances are it will be to them and if not to your gp. If they do this then it doesn't naturally mean hospital.

[Too Shy]

Thank-you everyone, much appreciated.

I've never had any issues with psychosis or anything, so it's not that. It could just be the first point of referral for mental health problems here though, I guess - I've seen a social worker in this city before but only for a very short time before being discharged, and the other week was the first time I've ended up in hospital.

I might try and talk to my counsellor then. He knows I'm struggling anyway, and he knows I ended up in hospital and why, so it probably won't be a surprise to him. I'm just kind of worried he'll tell my GP, or that my parents will end up finding out (even though I am 21), because I just want my mum to enjoy her last few years and I am terrified of ending up in hospital again. But then I guess if I talk to him I can try and stop it before it gets to that point?

[random.swirls]

Yeah as far as I know the only real time your parents would be involved in the above situation would be should you need to be sectioned and you can avoid that by going into hospital voluntarily.

However, hospital is a last resort generally and if you keep talking and fighting it then hopefully it won't be needed

xox

[tamobhuuta]

what Cam said. i think talking to your counsellor would be a good idea. try not to be scared :)

[Too Shy]

Thank-you for the advice everyone, is much appreciated.

I went to the FRIS appointment on Friday, and it was just the first basic introduction/assessment session, so usual history/background questions. The social worker is going to check on me again next week though and then see me once a month. So I guess that's good.

I'm not feeling as suicidal now, so hopefully the confidentiality thing won't be a problem now. :) But I might try and talk to my counsellor about it so that it doesn't get like that again.

[random.swirls]

It all sounds positive :)

Glad your feeling less suicidal :)

[tamobhuuta]

sounds good, i'm glad they're going to be helping you. talking is pretty much always a good move.