Could I get advice from those of you who interact regularly with the severely mentally ill?

[Anonymous]

My sister has schizophrenia and BPD. She is not being treated for her mental illness and I cannot get help for her without her cooperation since she is not a threat to herself or anyone else.

She survives on welfare and she lives with an older schizophrenic man who receives a pension.

She pays a "detective" (aka a crook) $750 a month to investigate people she believes are stalking her. The "detective" has told her that he has me on tape at the age of 13 discussing with my schoolmates that my sister was being stalked. He has told her all sorts of other crazy things (for example, I gave my relative tens of thousands of dollars, etc.).

Anyway, my sister now genuinely believes that I have known that she was being stalked for many years and I didn't warn her or try to help her. She feels deeply betrayed. I have told her many times in the past that she is ill and she needs help but she sincerely believes that she is ok and the rest of us are trying to hurt her. I am one of two relatives that regularly communicates with her. She has no friends, except for her schizophrenic roommate who believes everything this "detective" says. It seems that this "detective" has earned her trust and she will believe anything he says.

Has anyone been in a similar situation, where they received professional advice? What do I say to her to gain her trust? Of course I would like to keep trying to get her into treatment, but my immediate goal is to separate her from the "detective."

TIA

[Anonymous]

Have you met the so-called detective? I wonder if he is part of her delusion (does he really exist)?

[Anonymous]

You can't involuntarily commit her, but can you go to the police about this 'detective' ? He's clearly defrauding her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you met the so-called detective? I wonder if he is part of her delusion (does he really exist)?

That is an excellent question! No. I have never met the detective. However, ever since this detective arrived on the scene they (my sister and her roommate) don't have the money to meet their expenses. I do believe that they are giving somebody a significant amount of money on a regular basis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can't involuntarily commit her, but can you go to the police about this 'detective' ? He's clearly defrauding her.

That makes sense. It can't hurt to report this to the police.

[Anonymous]

Be careful, OP. My paranoid schizophrenic BIL believed my FIL was part of a government conspiracy against him, and it culminated in him beating my FIL nearly to death. Take your personal safety seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you met the so-called detective? I wonder if he is part of her delusion (does he really exist)?

That is an excellent question! No. I have never met the detective. However, ever since this detective arrived on the scene they (my sister and her roommate) don't have the money to meet their expenses. I do believe that they are giving somebody a significant amount of money on a regular basis.

Even if the "detective" exists, most or all of the information she said came from him is probably not coming from him. She probably genuinely believes he told her about some ancient tape of you but it's unlikely a sane person would say that to her, even if he is a crook.

[Anonymous]

Be careful about the police, too. They don't always know how to deal with mentally ill people and sometimes can hurt or kill them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Be careful, OP. My paranoid schizophrenic BIL believed my FIL was part of a government conspiracy against him, and it culminated in him beating my FIL nearly to death. Take your personal safety seriously.

Yes. This population can be very dangerous when in an actively psychotic state. You should keep your distance for awhile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Be careful about the police, too. They don't always know how to deal with mentally ill people and sometimes can hurt or kill them.

OP here. Yes. I am worried about this. My sister is not violent at all. She has never been physical. However, she is very verbally aggressive and belligerent and I don't think the police are trained to deal with people like that.

Does anyone have any ideas about what I can say to her to gain her trust? Perhaps I should see a psychologist who deals with these illnesses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Be careful about the police, too. They don't always know how to deal with mentally ill people and sometimes can hurt or kill them.

OP here. Yes. I am worried about this. My sister is not violent at all. She has never been physical. However, she is very verbally aggressive and belligerent and I don't think the police are trained to deal with people like that.

Does anyone have any ideas about what I can say to her to gain her trust? Perhaps I should see a psychologist who deals with these illnesses.

Maybe if she is belligerent with the police they will force her to a hospital. Not necessarily a bad thing, no?

[Anonymous]

You can call the DC mental health crisis mobile unit and they'll come out and evaluate her. If she becomes belligerent, well that's a way to get her hospitalized in the short-term. It would also be a way to explore this "detective" issue, whether it's a delusion or a fraud.

When was she diagnosed? Is there any room to follow up there? Is she entirely unmedicated? How do you feel about a well visit from some authority, the police or health services? Is she without a social worker, even though she's receiving benefits? Could you contact her social worker?

This is tough stuff, OP. Take care of yourself, and stay safe.

[Anonymous]

I would call the police non emergency line. This detective is obviously taking advantage. Maybe they have a department to help with this like they do with people who take advantage of the elderly.

[Anonymous]

what state does your sister live in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Be careful about the police, too. They don't always know how to deal with mentally ill people and sometimes can hurt or kill them.

OP here. Yes. I am worried about this. My sister is not violent at all. She has never been physical. However, she is very verbally aggressive and belligerent and I don't think the police are trained to deal with people like that.

Does anyone have any ideas about what I can say to her to gain her trust? Perhaps I should see a psychologist who deals with these illnesses.

Maybe if she is belligerent with the police they will force her to a hospital. Not necessarily a bad thing, no?

Bad idea.