Hi All. This is the first online 'forum' I have ever joined so please bear with me, I will try to write appropriately. My daughter (21 years old) was diagnosed Bipolar I last year. She went through lots of meds and is 'rapid cycling'. She is a senior in college that is 6 hours from home. 10 days ago she checked herself into a hospital for suicidal thoughts. Long story shorter, she is in a severe depression. Doctor is a travelling doctor and is not in the hospital every day. Over a week ago the doc said she was going to try Lithium again but wanted blood work first as when my daughter tried Lithium before, made her thirsty ALL the time and constantly peeing. She is now in day 10 of inpatient 6 hours away and still not started on Lithium. She says the depression has gotten slightly better but still has thoughts. No word on blood work.

Here is my question, we have an excellent psych hospital 20 minutes away in RI (she is in NY). She spoke to nurse to see if she could transfer but hospital is saying that no one gets released while having these thoughts. I am thinking of speaking to the social worker to see if she could be released to my custody to check her into the local hospital.

I could really use some advice. Not sure where to turn. I would think it would be important to have her on mood stabilizers but she isn't. She is on Klonopin and Adavan and Lexapro (? 20-mg---she was on 200mg earlier in the year) and something else that I can't remember.

I want to help in any way I can but not sure what I should do.