Mental Health What would you do in this situation?

[Polluted_Mind]

So I live in a shared house where everyone has their own room. About 4 weeks ago a lady from Vietnam moved in (which is weird as everyone is students here) with her young daughter (mother must be about 35, daughter maybe 11) and the mother has gone completely insane.

Last night she knocked on my door and wanted me to come talk to her, I thought she was just lonely and wanted to talk so agreed. But then she started going on about how another housemate from Norway is an imposter who is "wearing a fake mask, has a fake passport and owes her $14 million, because he is the reincarnation of a work friend she used to have" (I'm not even joking, and she was dead serious the whole time). She also said she was getting kicked out by the landlord (which is because she keeps on harassing this poor guy).

I decided to just ignore it last night, but earlier today when I was at uni she went into the Norwegian student's room, and bit him (which is obviously assault).

I haven't talked to that guy yet as just heard about it from another housemate.

Obviously the main concern is to minimize the stress on the kid (whose really friendly and cool, and said to me "sometimes I don't like staying with my mum, she gets really strange".

Should I ask the kid if she has any relatives overseas and if so whether I could talk to them, and then try to explain to the relatives the situation so they can help?

I mean I could just ignore it, and probably would (I mean if someone is going to be committed, there's not much you can do about it), if there wasn't a kid stuck in this bizarre situation.

So how can I minimize the stress on this poor kid?? I'm worried the cops will eventually rock up and drag her mother away kicking and screaming, which would probably traumatize her for life .

 

[Captain.Heroin]

Call the non-emergency police line, and ask for a wellness check for her.

Hopefully she will be spouting the same psychotic stuff to the cops. However, that doesn't really mean the police are going to do anything about it, it just means they have the opportunity to.

They may decide not to do a damn thing because cops in the United States are inherently lazy.

Pray to God that the cops actually feel like helping out a fellow human being, that's the best advice I can give you.

 

[coelophysis]

So how can I minimize the stress on this poor kid?? I'm worried the cops will eventually rock up and drag her mother away kicking and screaming, which would probably traumatize her for life .

Yeah but it sounds like her mother being so insane is going to be traumatizing to her in the long run as well.
Maybe try to find out from the kid who the closest relative is and see if you can contact them to ask them about what the mother is like?

It really sort of seems like a case for Dyfs. I'm not sure the child should be around an either unmedicated schizophrenic or a drug abusing psychotic mother.
Tough call and awkward scenario, I feel for you. I hope she doesn't flip on you too.

 

[Polluted_Mind]

Call the non-emergency police line, and ask for a wellness check for her.

I'm in Australia so not sure if there's the same procedures, but to be honest the police are the worst thing I can think of. I just decided I'll call the "acute care team" which is a mental health group which goes around to mental-health emergencies in Australia, and just see what their opinion is.

I hope she doesn't flip on you too.

That's the bizarre thing, even in the heavy psychosis she loves me, must be because she respects fellow freaks, lol.

 

[Black Rabbit of Inle]

That's a pretty bizarre position to find yourself P_M.

In Aus you would have to contact DHS and express your concern for the child. Depending on the state you live in there may be a psychological support team that would be sent out to asses the situation. Depending on whether the mother is a registered citizen or not would raise further issues for parent and child.

 

[Captain.Heroin]

I'm in Australia so not sure if there's the same procedures, but to be honest the police are the worst thing I can think of.

Yeah, I feel you. Calling the police is the last thing I'd do, especially after how I've witnessed and heard about cops not giving a fuck and mistreating the mentally ill... but it's worth a shot, especially if there's any chance that the police actually care about people in your neck of the woods.

The mental health people are probably a better resource in your area, please keep us updated and let us know how it goes.

 

[Kerrigan]

What if she attacks any of the police? I wonder what they could charge her with, and is her being placed in custody really all that good an idea—she'll be away from home, her daughter, and everything familiar and forced into a place with criminals, presumably believing that she's being treated as a criminal.

Rather than police, I'd try to get some sort of mental-health people to help. You can contact certain groups and they'll help you have someone sectioned, if they need it. But I think what would be best, if this isn't too expensive, is for her to be made to speak to a mental health professional, who might be able to diagnose the mother's problems and perhaps even offer therapy for the trauma the girl's gone through! It's all tricky business, and in the end, without a mother, this child is going to end up with social-services; they'll no-doubt ship her off somewhere without giving two fucks about her feelings and situation, and you will have been responsible for all of this.

So, how about you take the woman to see a doctor and don't inform the authorities; perhaps persuade your landlord and the Norwegian student to leave her be, and keep the child in your company whilst the mother is at her appointments—a few weeks after the drugs kick in, I'm sure there'll be a positive side to all of this. Hell, she could have some sort of brain-damage (caused by, who knows, falling over and whacking her head particularly hard?) and it's a very delicate situation. But think before you act, because police and immigration services and everything would be making a huge fuss, when she may just need a week to herself to recover and relax, whilst being fed tranquilizers or different drugs for a diagnosed psychological condition, presumably the sort that she can't pay for and doesn't have insurance to pay for!

Be... gentle. Please. %)

 

[Black Rabbit of Inle]

Did you end up doing anything P_M?