Vulnerable

[Sunshine1010]

Hello,  

Would be grateful for advice and resources relevant to Victoria.

Vulnerable 50 year old is about to have all their personal belongings sold at  auction by storage company due to outstanding bills and lack of contact. 

I’m feeling helpless as person is unwilling to acknowledge mental health issues: schizophrenia and split personality.  They have estranged themselves from family who love them and could help. They are very distrusting of catchment health services and have evaded all attempts of support. Current address is unknown and occasionally communicates with family with stories that aren’t reality. 

I don’t believe they would ever knowingly let their personal items be sold off.

How do you help someone that doesn’t want help or isn’t aware that they need help? And perhaps can’t remember where they have storage?

Thanks 

[Dimity]

That sounds very sad @Sunshine1010 .

It's especially difficult if you can't contact them.

There might not be anything you can do if they didn't list an emergency contact with the storage company and haven't given anyone power of attorney.

I don't know if it would be possible to involve a CATT service. I talked to one a couple of years ago trying to get help for someone (ideally assessment for referral to community based services) but the CATT people said they wouldn't intervene under the mental health act as in their opinion the person was making a lifestyle choice. It's hard to see it as a choice if the person is too unwell to look after themselves.

I know how hard it can feel to worry about someone and feel powerless to help. Take care.

I'm in Victoria. Primary Health Networks can apparently fund some services for people not on NDIS. Community health centres provide some services too. Advocacy for someone is difficult.  The person's GP often seems to be a gatekeeper for services.  If your loved one is 50 they won't be eligible for youth or seniors focussed programs, but there are general community based services for counselling, mental health and psychosocial support. 

Good luck. Happy to talk further.

[Ru-bee]

Hi @Sunshine1010 and welcome to the forums

This sounds like a really difficult position to be in, and unfortunately there is often little that we can do in terms of setting up supports for an adult who does not feel they need it. They are lucky that they have someone like you looking out for them, just being there can make more of a difference than it might seem.

Having said that, I do wonder if there is something that can be done by seeking legal advice. You can contact Legal Aid on 1300 792 387 or they have a chat option on their website. Again, I'm not sure how it will go as it's on behalf of another person, but maybe it's worth a try?

I'm sorry I don't have more suggestions but perhaps others may have some more ideas. 

Take care x

[Sugarshack]

Can you "save" their stuff and then, give it back to them? As in, saving the stuff 'should' be enough to get them to talk to you, even if they are doing it out of self interest or, could it be that their loss of stuff is a sign of how little the outside world means to them?

What relationship are you to that person? Do you have a history of conflict with them? Is there a third party who they might trust more, or want to have contact with? 

I say this because my mother is an addict/split personality who only remembers her own perception of reality. She has been horrible to me for many years and caused untold loss and damage to my life. I despise her due to KNOWING that she has no true intentions for my wellbeing, she only wants to enter my life to see if she can cause pain or a reaction - then she wants to depart just as suddenly as if she is testing the water..."Do I still have any power to cause a negative reaction in my child?" 

I don't write the above to make it all about me but to underline that people have their own opinions and free will, and maybe that person just wants to leave the situation. At the end of the day all people want to do life on their own terms, and quite often the intention of "we want what's best for YOU!" only translates to "we want you to do things our way and if you want it your way you can GGF". 

People want peace and happiness at the end of the day, mental health labels aside one person's passion is another's poison and interpersonal conflict and domination is a horrible burden to an already burdened life, for both parties.