Post suicide attempt, coming home, help me make home safer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If she is with Fairfax County, they waive the child's responsibility for assignments and tests while hospitalized or in day-time PHP. That way the child can focus on their mental health during those times. I would imagine other school systems do the same, but please check to verify. That way you don't have to worry about her struggling to catch up on assignments and tests for grading.

Hi, NP here. Sorry to resurrect an older thread, but I was searching the forum and this is exactly the info I am looking for.

DD is a senior in FCPS and was hospitalized Thursday for suicidal thoughts/plans. The plan is for her to go into a full-day PHP once she gets out, though I have asked about after-school IOP too. I know it's hard to get in to these programs so I am not sure yet what will be available or what would be better for her. She takes all AP classes and is super worried about how all this will affect her grades so I am trying to get more information to put her at ease. (I personally could not care less about school right now. I just want her to get better and live.)

I will call the counselor Monday morning to start whatever processes are available. Should I also reach out to teachers? They all seem so lovely and have been very accommodating with some recent absences due to both depression and other medical issues. She has high grades and has already gotten in to college, so I am hopeful they will try to help her do the minimum so she can focus on her mental health.

Any BTDT advice around PHP/IOP and high school would be helpful. This is her first hospitalization but we have been going through this for 4 years so I have already done a lot of the things advised around safety at home.

I’m sorry you’re going through this. My son had a lot of hospitalizations through HS as well as PHPs and IOPs. Typically he did PHP and then stepped down to IOP. My point of communication was always the counselor not teachers and then the counselor handled things with the teachers.

One thing to remember is that at age 18 things change with you being able to control whether your daughter gets treatment. And options change as well. Time goes fast when you are dealing with crises. I hope you find what you need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the OP and I wanted to chime in that my DD has been home since Nov. and things are so much better. She is doing DBT skills and individual therapy, w have found a good psych and I think she is on the right meds. Lost of limits and boundaries at home. We are not home free by any means but I just wanted to give hope to anyone out there.

FWIW she did Dominion PHP a few years ago and found it basically worthless. I have head good things about the Heartwood Program, which takes tweens. Also Newport Academy.

I am so happy to hear this OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If she is with Fairfax County, they waive the child's responsibility for assignments and tests while hospitalized or in day-time PHP. That way the child can focus on their mental health during those times. I would imagine other school systems do the same, but please check to verify. That way you don't have to worry about her struggling to catch up on assignments and tests for grading.

Hi, NP here. Sorry to resurrect an older thread, but I was searching the forum and this is exactly the info I am looking for.

DD is a senior in FCPS and was hospitalized Thursday for suicidal thoughts/plans. The plan is for her to go into a full-day PHP once she gets out, though I have asked about after-school IOP too. I know it's hard to get in to these programs so I am not sure yet what will be available or what would be better for her. She takes all AP classes and is super worried about how all this will affect her grades so I am trying to get more information to put her at ease. (I personally could not care less about school right now. I just want her to get better and live.)

I will call the counselor Monday morning to start whatever processes are available. Should I also reach out to teachers? They all seem so lovely and have been very accommodating with some recent absences due to both depression and other medical issues. She has high grades and has already gotten in to college, so I am hopeful they will try to help her do the minimum so she can focus on her mental health.

Any BTDT advice around PHP/IOP and high school would be helpful. This is her first hospitalization but we have been going through this for 4 years so I have already done a lot of the things advised around safety at home.

I’m sorry you’re going through this. My son had a lot of hospitalizations through HS as well as PHPs and IOPs. Typically he did PHP and then stepped down to IOP. My point of communication was always the counselor not teachers and then the counselor handled things with the teachers.

One thing to remember is that at age 18 things change with you being able to control whether your daughter gets treatment. And options change as well. Time goes fast when you are dealing with crises. I hope you find what you need.

Thank you, yes, I know DD being 18 complicates things. Fortunately one of the first things I had her do when she turned 18 was to sign all the paperwork granting me power of attorney and waiving HIPPA. So far it's going ok. Because she is still in high school, most (but not all) of the adolescent PHP/IOP programs will take her, but I'm figuring all that out. She is at an Inova hospital right now, so I am hoping they can get her into Keller, but have been familiarizing myself with the other options mentioned in this thread as well. Thank you to all of you who have posted, it's been a great resource though I am sad so many of us are dealing with this.