Welcome to my world: I am a mom who has been supporting a child through mental illness and the system of facilities, programs, processes, private insurance and public assistance for the last 2 years plus. The information contained in this blog is based on personal experiences, lessons learned and helpful tools adopted to best support myself and my family during this traumatic and confusing time.
Most importantly, this blog gives focus to families who suddenly and somewhat unexpectedly find themselves in the midst of a Mental Health Crisis, with little forewarning and less idea of what they are about to experience.
In my personal story there was little warning, short of some teenage depression, some suspected drug and alcohol use and falling school grade point averages. We were completely taken by surprise when on December 23, 2010 we found ourselves sitting in the Psych ED of our local hospital.
This visit launched what has taken us on a journey through three states, Maine, Pennsylvania and New York and through 5 in-patient hospitalizations, numerous partial hospitalizations, skill building classes, a suicide attempt and 3 Residential programs (private and public).
This blog serves as a guide to dealing and working with mental illness services for the purpose of, but not limited to, helping to point out tools that work, pitfalls to watch out for, questions to ask, questions to ask again (I will definitely have a post around “No” not being the right answer) and how to work with private insurance, public assistance, and finding support resources along the way. This information is based solely on personal experience and conclusions are anecdotal and may not apply to all situations.
I would love feedback, ideas, other tools and techniques that help this journey. I am personally open to learn and grow my knowledge to continue to provide information out to those who seek it.
Excellent,very well written. Look forward to more posts.
Great start. Looking forward to seeing this path unfold.
I’m sure there is a need for this out there. I hope people who need it find their way here. Forward it to everyone you know
How wonderful for you to create this blog as your own outlet while helping others in the process. As someone who has been hospitalized twice for depression, my heart is so deeply touched by what you are going through. Here’s a post I wrote a while back about mental health. In it, I refer to a few mental health sites, which you might find useful. If not, my hope is that my words may provide some comfort: http://michellesedas.com/blog/2008/05/may-is-mental-health-month/
I have also worked very closely with iFred: Shining the Light on Depression http://www.ifred.org/ This is a very encouraging and positive organization.
Blessings,
@MichelleSedas
Very well written, I wish you every thing u need, and then some. Having worked in a hospital. For a good deal of my life, I know This is not an easy road , but you sound determined and that’s a great attitude. Not all parents have that!
I wish I could offer you something? I wish you well.
Thank you Kathy! Oh what a journey it has been! Your willingness to read and comment is a wonderful gift! One of the reasons why I love Instagram (<–this is where I met Kathy) so much is that it gives me such an opportunity to stop and see beauty, even in places I don't expect. Great metaphor for life 🙂 Be well!!