Yesterday early morning I received a cryptic text from a distant acquaintance. It didn't sit right with me and soon I found myself at his door. My acquaintance was in the throws of a mental health crisis; he was suicidal. I spent the next 8 hours with him and in contact with various crisis organisations. I was able to calm him down during this time and we made a safety plan which included these agencies. He agreed with me that the best place for him was the hospital but his PTSD was an issue preventing him from spending hours and hours in an emergency waiting room surrounded by countless others. So I insisted then that we start with his psychiatrist who had the ability to start the admissions process to allow him to by-pass the waiting room. The only problem was that he could not see him until end of day (some doctor, eh). So with him I stayed for most of that time. My own crisis going on at home meant however I had no choice but to leave.

I would do this again for anybody. But I admit I am a little perturbed as, for all the actual friends and the family he called not one made an effort to come over. He got little more than unhelpful advice like 'stay so strong' and 'thoughts and prayers.

It got to the point that I had to leave and put my faith in him that he would remain safe and follow the safety plan we had agreed upon. Crisis networks would call to check in as would I with the guarantee that if he didn't respond I would be sending the police. I ensured arrangements were made to take him to the psychiatrist with a car provided by one of the crisis agencies who would also ensure he was then transported to the hospital. We made our check-ins until finally he advised me he was headed down the hall to the ward.

I got no sleep last night worried it was just a ruse.

Thankfully someone at the hospital this morning confirmed he was in fact admitted and on the ward. Oh thank goodness. I could never have forgiven myself for having left him alone if something had happened.