Fairfax County Crisis Mobilization Unit

[Anonymous]

DC was hospitalized about 6 months ago for a suicide attempt. Did well with the hospitalization and antidepressant helped tremendously. History of depression, anxiety, and is on the spectrum. DC is an adolescent.

DC now refuses to take the medication and has deteriorated - very irritable, easily gets angry, spends most of the time in her bedroom, refuses to eat with us but will eat leftovers or fix something for herself. I took the cell phone away for 3 days and that did not make a difference, was just as irritable. DC has not socialized with friends for month. Currently approved for homebound instruction but is barely doing any work. Initially, DC would do about 3 hours of school/day, now barely anything, logs on for about an hour. Refuses to see a therapist. We had a telemedicine appointment with the psychiatrist but refused to participate. Psychiatrist says if DC has suicidal ideation to take her to the ER. For now, psychiatrist doesn't think there's much that can be done because DC is not willing to cooperate with anything. DC not currently having suicidal ideation, does not appear to be a threat to herself or anyone. However, she needs psychiatric care and most importantly to get back on the antidepressant which was helping. I can't get DC to go through an intake for intensive outpatient or partial day hospitalization, I can't DC to take the antidepressant, I can't get DC to therapy. DC is too dysregulated at the moment to benefit from therapy.

Could the crisis mobilization unit help with this situation? Would they be able to get her to the ER for an evaluation? On the website, it says if the patient is unwilling to go for an evaluation, they can do that involuntarily. I'm at a loss on what to do. The situation is putting a strain on the whole family and I'm worried seeing DC deteriorating.

[Anonymous]

I don’t have any advice, but wow, this sounds really tough. I hope you get some helpful responses and your daughter feels better soon.

[Anonymous]

Hi. I am so sorry this is happening. She sounds like she could benefit from a residential program do a while, or maybe wilderness therapy, or maybe both. What are your finances like? Do you have insurance? Can you afford private pay for a while? There are short term insurance funded RTCs. There are private pay programs out of state. There is medical transport that can take her even if she is not willing to go. They cost a lot though. You might want to look at the “All Kinds of Therapy” site. If you have the funds, you might consider hiring an educational consultant for mental health programs. Tom Harvey is one locally. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

As for the crisis unit, you could try but it doesn’t sound like she is immediate crisis. If she is a threat to herself or others she can be hospitalized on a 72 hour psych hold and maybe you could transport her from there directly to a residential facility.

[Anonymous]

And another step could be to talk with a oarent coach with experience in these kinds of situations. One is the Ruben Group, and Lisa Jackson there. They also have interventionists. Another is Beth Hillman.

[Anonymous]

REACH may be an option since she is on the spectrum and could come out to the house if she won't leave.

[Anonymous]

I’m so sorry you are going through this. How old is she? If she is 14 or older you are going to have the same problems with them, since she is past the age where they can’t force her to consent in VA.

You can always call and talk to them, we did a few times but this several years ago. It was always determined that no one was coming in our situation because it wasn’t severe enough. Same with the crisis line.

Is she over or under 14?

[Anonymous]

And i just want to say again how sorry i am and that I know how hard this is. If things change and she is a danger to herself or others, call them immediately or even 911. They have ways to involuntary bring her for help. It’s not pleasant and I hope it never gets to that point for your family.

[Anonymous]

Can you get her back to in person school?

[Anonymous]

In our experience with the crisis line, they only take them if they are a threat to themselves or others IN THAT MOMENT. It’s a very frustrating process.

[Anonymous]

OP here. A heartfelt thank you to all for the feedback and support. DC is 15. I'll contact some of the reasons mentioned here.

[Anonymous]

I'm just wondering if the medicine has side effects and that's why she is refusing to take it?

[Anonymous]

Hugs PP. Homebound teen parent here. It is so hard and we can't find good help.

I'll be sending you good thoughts.

[Anonymous]

I think you need to work with therapists to get her to engage with the world. Behavioral activation is very important in depression, especially if she doesn’t want to take meds. You need to figure out a plan to get her out of the house daily even if that is just to go to the store or go to tutoring. A parenting therapist will help you figure out how to make a plan.

[Anonymous]

When this happened to us I paid OUT THE NOSE to get a therapist who came to the house.