Help Getting Help

[PatheticGirl43]

What was getting help like for you? How did you start the process? Has it significantly improved your quality of life? Do you no longer wish to ctb?


*bonus if you live in Quebec and have advice for navigating our ridiculous health care system because I am completely lost and can't afford to go private.

 

[timf]

Another approach you may wish to consider is that if there is no direct group in Quebec to contact, you might have some success going through an intermediary group. For examples a church might be able to connect you with someone who has had some success. Many liberal churches have all sorts of groups that meet and you might find one close enough for you the evaluate the people in person to see if their recommendations might have value. Some people panic if they hear the word suicide, so you might want to just mention something like depression. Also a group like AA or Alanon might be able to help you connect with someone.

It can also be helpful to get information from an industry insider. For example an emergency room nurse might know of someone they might recommend. If you seek a medical doctor like a psychiatrist, you may find yourself being medicated. This is not always bad if there is actually a real medical problem. A talk therapist (psychologist, etc) can be helpful if you just need to work through some difficulties.

The fact that you are reaching out and seeking information is a real positive indication. That you are cautious and desire to evaluate the information you might receive is additionally a favorable indicator.

 

[Peachycherry]

I'm in the same process as you, it's so complicated
I'd say there's different levels of help available. First there's the 'emergency' help, if you're actively contemplating suicide. For that, you can either call 911 and have an ambulance come to your home, though police might come as well. They'll most likely decide to take you to an hospital. The other way is to directly commit yourself to an hospital, by going to the ER and saying you want to commit suicide. Keep in mind though that hospitals consider suicide in a clinical matter, and since psychiatric consults represent about 50% of all visits in ERs, the psychiatric unit might be full and you'll only be given meds and sent back home. I'd say hospitals are only good for crisis states, not actually recovering from your mental illness. If you do need to go to an hospital, try going to one that specializes in mental health, like the Douglas institute.
Then there's the 'support' help, like hotlines or support groups. They don't solve much either but can keep you going. The province-wide hotline is 1-866-APPELLE, but there's also regional hotlines available like suicide action montreal for example. For support groups, call your local CLSC. They often organise them. Also check out Revivre.org, it's a mental health organization, they offer virtual support groups for different mental disorders.
Then there's the actual help, much harder to access. To get meds, see your family doctor, who'll also refer you to a psychologist/psychiatrist. If you don't have one, get to the ER. The hard part at that point is waiting, since most public psychiatrists have an at least 6 months waiting list. To see a psychologist, you get 6 free consults with the Régime d'assurance maladie irrc, but there's also long waiting times. Are you still at school? There's often a psychologist or other professionals available to see for free. See if colleges or universities don't offer free or lowered costs consults. I don't see much else, honestly. If it can reassure you however, the PM announced more mental health resources, especially since what happened Saturday night. Might be some time before we get to access that though.
Anyway, I wish you the best. I know personally how tough it is to navigate through Qc's medical system.

 

[Deleted member 1465]

What allowed me to start to improve was actually having 'help' removed. I was abandoned and left in a serious condition by the hospital. This made me indescribably angry and my emotion metastasised into a cold, calculating fury that I used to bully doctors into getting what I needed.
Then I was left alone again. At the time it felt like abandonment, but in hindsight I'm glad it happened. I decided that I couldn't trust anyone who offered help and had to stand on my own. Well, almost. I had support from people on this website who became close friends. I learned to have some pride in myself. Then very slowly, I began to piece things back together. Instead of wanting to be cured and have a normal life, I tried to accept things as they were.
I've used diet, supplements, medication, exercise and daylight to treat myself, even though I still need the input of doctors ideally for a diagnosis of my physical issues.
What helped me the least was the attention of a psychiatrist. Once I stopped seeing him and being told how to think and feel, I began to come to terms with having honest feelings about my illness instead of expecting some miraculous cure.

 

[LittleJem]

If you have depression it is worth trying St John's Wort. You can buy otc. I am currently taking otc Lithium Orotate plus L Tryptophan and together they have taken me from 8/10 suicidal to 3/10 for a few weeks (PMT excepted). Also, I don't know whether you can order some medications online in Quebec - as I have done in Europe - then you can be your own guinea pig. I did my own research as the psychiatrist I initially paid for (twice) just handed me pills and told me nothing about them. It was also so expensive. £240 a session plus £70 prescription charge... So I tested my own instead. Depends on the pill, but for me it gave me more choice. Also look into microdosing. Lots of success stories.
Re help, I prefer medication/supplements to therapy personally. As no therapy has ever helped my suicidal thoughts. Only things that change my brain chemistry. But they say therapy works better when you have a working medication. Good luck!