got a call yesterday from my old, troubled friend.

Pete is my old friend from college. The guy's brilliant, really, in many ways. Writes gorgeous code when he wants to, has a spectacular memory and fairly deep understanding of all the crap we studied way back when. He calls me when he wants to talk about Hegel, or about cancer, a history with which we also share.

He also calls me when his schizoaffective disorder gets the better of him, like it is these days. He was better yesterday than I've seen him at times - I've seen him catatonic - but it was pretty bad. He didn't want me to come over and he ended up being able to steady himself between talking to me and his sister. Still, he can't get in to see a doctor (for someone who makes $100k+ when he works, he never has any money - impulsivity) because his tax records state that he makes too much to get in for free. He needs to see a psych to get back on his meds, and he needs the meds badly. Fucking mental health system. Any ideas? I need to call him back in a little bit.

(Mods, please note that I'm not asking for medical advice.)

indicate whether he's working or not now and that might be a factor. I guessed he's from GA, but don't know. And I have no answers, but hope someone will be able to help your friend.


http://mentalhealth.about.com/cs/localandregional/a/georgia.htm

http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/stateresourceguides/georgia01.asp

Yeah, he's in Atlanta. I appreciate it - added these to what I'm sending him.

Ulysses did say that his friend makes 100k+ (schizophrenics, generally, have brilliant minds), so I'm amazed that he has no money to see a psychiatrist monthly. My son pays $85 for a fifteen-minute session, which obviously isn't intended to treat his schizophrenia, but to regulate his medication.

He's often out of work, because he has the interpersonal skills of a live hand grenade. :) The money doesn't last. I bailed him out of jail twice in one month years back, and he showed up the day after the second time with a brand new (large, costly) tattoo and a hot check for $600 made out to me. He's laying bricks now for $40/day for gas money while he fights with the last folks who fired him over unemployment bennies.

Here in my county, we have a mental health dept that takes walk ins. We also have a 24 hour emergency line.

but he was telling me yesterday that he couldn't get into the free clinic. Now, he's also stubborn and proud, and may have meant that he couldn't get in where he *wanted* to go. I don't know. I just called and left him a message.

I am not suggesting that as the best way to go, but if he's really at a break point he NEEDS to be seen now. I'd think that an ER would have to act if he went in and said he's worried he's gonna hurt himself...

If he has no insurance that could be a problem--kind of depends on the hospital what they will allow as charity care--but at least he might get stabilized and not hurt himself or anyone else.


I'm sorry. I'm sorry for him and I'm sorry for you because you are worried. I lost a fried a few years ago to suicide, and I have never really gotten past my own anger at the lack of mental health care in this country.



Laura

(he moved to Atl in...oh hell, the mid-90s anyway), but I'm not sure if he's tried it. I'm hoping he'll call me back soon.

He can be difficult to look after. Thanks, Laura.

She's very resourceful :)

Thanks. :)