[southernme]

My daughter, 30, is schizophrenic and lives in Florida with her father. He didn't believe she was schizophrenic but recently witnessed her behavior and admitted he was wrong. She has been in and out of jail along with substance abuse and lived on the street on and off. She went to jail and is out and back at his house and he is behaving like before. He has given her 3 weeks to move out. He is telling her terrible things like she isn't his daughter, he hates her etc. She was on meds in jail but they released her with nothing. She is finding it very difficult to function with no meds and can't get in to a dr until the end of August. I would bring her here with me but have to go to Vermont to work. (without this money no way I can support us) I don't know how to help her. I can't make him have human feelings and help her. I need to know if there is some place she can go stay that she will feel safe. She can't hold a conversation right now much less a job. He is sending her to the streets. They live in Cape Coral. If anyone has any suggestions I really would appreciate it. Thanks

[glok]

Hello, southernme. Please consider calling the Florida Department of Health - 850-245-4444 Florida Department of Health to find out if your daughter qualifies for any assistance.

As a last resort, you daughter might consider voluntarily admitting herself into a state treatment facility. At least there she would be off the streets and likely able to get the medications she needs.

I wish you well.

[Jolisse]

Why so long to see a doctor?

[Sometimes psychotic]

Originally Posted by southernme

My daughter, 30, is schizophrenic and lives in Florida with her father. He didn't believe she was schizophrenic but recently witnessed her behavior and admitted he was wrong. She has been in and out of jail along with substance abuse and lived on the street on and off. She went to jail and is out and back at his house and he is behaving like before. He has given her 3 weeks to move out. He is telling her terrible things like she isn't his daughter, he hates her etc. She was on meds in jail but they released her with nothing. She is finding it very difficult to function with no meds and can't get in to a dr until the end of August. I would bring her here with me but have to go to Vermont to work. (without this money no way I can support us) I don't know how to help her. I can't make him have human feelings and help her. I need to know if there is some place she can go stay that she will feel safe. She can't hold a conversation right now much less a job. He is sending her to the streets. They live in Cape Coral. If anyone has any suggestions I really would appreciate it. Thanks

She should just be able to go to an ER to see a psych...depending on the hospital and ERs have to treat you whether you have money or not...they will bill her but if she can't pay they will just write it off. If she goes to a hospital with a psych ward the may even admit her which might b a good idea until she gets stabilized....

[costello]

In my experience, it's difficult to find a place for a mentally ill person to live. Things may be different where she is. Clearly the situation with her dad is toxic, and she needs to be out of there as fast as possible. Does she have a case manager who might help?

Sometimes being homeless helps. The mental health system tends to operate in crisis mode in my experience. If someone has a home - no matter how bad - they don't do much. If someone doesn't have a home, they become a priority. One time when my son was living with my mom, we were getting no help in finding a place for him. Then he was hospitalized for a few days. The case manager advised us not to let him go back to my mom's house. That made him 'homeless' (although it was only for one night), so he was eligible for temporary housing through the mental health center.

Is there no way she can go to Vermont with you?

IMO you need to get her off drugs and clean for six months to a year, then see how she's doing. Drug use can look like mental illness.