Grandson admitted to hospital

We really thought our grandson was making some progress now that he has been taking his medication - we have legal custody and he has lived with us since he was 13 months old. He seemed happier and spent more time with us instead of hiding in his room. Today he sent me a text message saying that he was going to end his life tonight. I immediately went to his HS and got him. A friend drove us to the hospital (the nearest adolescent unit is over 20 miles away but it's the best place for him to be). During the initial meeting with a therapist in the ER my grandson admitted to hearing voices, seeing shadows and feeling as if there was absolutely no reason for him to live. There was a lot more but it didn't take long for the hospital to admit him. Over and over they kept asking us if there was a history of schizophrenia in his background - we don't know. Our daughter (his mother) was adopted and his father lives in AZ. I just want him safe and happy and healthy. When we left he was sobbing and that broke my heart. I am really frightened.

gosh, i am so sorry that you guys are having to go thru this traumatic time. mental illness is so tragic and scary when it takes this form and how terrifying for him. luckily meds can really help when you find the right ones. ive had the voices telling me to kill myself and it really is awful but with meds they went away and dont bother me anymore. check out nami.org and see if there is an affiliate in your area. they have support groups and classes that can support and educate you on what your grandson is going thru. with this knowledge what you are going through will be less frightening and you will be better prepared to handle the situation. best of luck.

Thank you so much for your encouraging words kaliope. He is an amazing boy who is just so sad right now and so determined to end his life. I'm feeling lost in an abyss of grief and I know I need to be strong for him. Thank you again!

How are things going? Is he still in the hospital? Admitting a child to a psych unit is one of the hardest things we have to do and my heart goes out to you! We have been there with our own daughter several times. Finally we had her admitted to a residential treatment center suggested to us by both her pdoc and her therapist. It was where she was diagnosed with bipolar and properly medicated. So it can be very helpful to submit to hospitalization! My thoughts and prayers are with you!

As for the voices, that can indeed be schizophrenia, but it can also be part of bipolar disorder or schizoaffective disorder!

Nancy

He came home after a week. He wants to be home. He doesn't want to go anywhere else, especially school. We are having a problem finding a psychiatrist to work with him because they all want us to use their counselors. The therapist my grandson works with is very good and they have developed a good relationship. It's frustrating. He says that he does not hear the voice anymore, but we worry he is saying that because he knows it was a big deal. I just got a call from school and he is really struggling today. He is refusing to do anything asked of him and demanding that everyone leave him alone. I'm torn between making him attend school or having him tutored for the rest of the year. I fear once we let him stay home he will never return.

Besides that one incident at the hospital where he said he heard voices etc, has he ever displayed other signs of showing psychosis?

Sorry I have not replied to your response. I wish I could say everything is great. It's ok. We found a psychiatrist and that is good. We have also been referred to a neuropsychologist for an assessment to determine if he is in the Autism spectrum (we believe he has Aspergers as does his psychiatrist). Yesterday and today he has alluded to hearing the voice again. He had finally mellowed out and seemed to be making some progress. Today he has shown brief moments of anger typical of pre-hospitalization. He sees his therapist on Monday. I came out and asked him if he is hearing the voice again. He said he didn't know. I also asked him if he wanted to hurt himself again. He said no, but wouldn't look me in the eyes (not unusual). I guess we are on watch again.