Need some advice on Medical Care

[spitfireashlea]

A friend of mine is incredibly depressed and is reaching out for help. She had been on two perscriptions, Seraquil and Klonapin. She has a 2 year old son and makes enough money to not be considered for medicaid or any other service, but not enough to pay for perscriptions or co pays. She had to cancell a few doctors apointments due to emergencies, and so they stopped her script. She is intensley depressed now, suicidal and not thinking rationally.

What information can I give her, what can she do? Is there any place in Albany NY that she could go to for a perscription, help...anything that she could afford?

I know there are alot of intellegent people on here, I trust you won't steer me or her wrong. Thank you for any suggestions.



*EDIT*
She is also afraid that If she goes to any kind of counceling and admits she is suicidal, that she will loose custody of her son. Any suggestions on this?

[Freakie_frog]

Your local Department of Human Services.. their whole purpose for being with stuff like this.. Contact them see if they can't put you in touch with a group or service that offers just what you're looking for..

[spitfireashlea]

I found no Department of Human Services, but I do see the Department of Social Services here in Albany. She has gone to them, she makes too much to get any assistance from them.

I see a Suicide Crisis center here, maybe that can give her someone to talk to, but she is afraid to mention that she is suicidal for fear of loosing her son. Also, I don't see a way for her to get those perscriptions for less, maybe online?

[Jacob1023]

There is always the national suicide hotline. Also, if she is religous at all you can utilize the church. She should be able to go through either of them without any fear of losing her kid. I'm in the military and get free health care, so I take it for granted very often, but I can see how this can be a very tough situation.

[spitfireashlea]

I guess one more thing to mention is that the two perscription drugs she was on are extremley addictive and the doctor who was perscribing them stopped her perscription because she had to cancel/reschedule an appointment. Its dangerous to stop them cold turkey I believe, could she do something about this?

[Jacob1023]

Without getting in to see a doctor, or at least getting her regular dr. on the phone, I don't think she can. I'd just keep a close eye, and if things really don't look right, either because of medication or thinking she might try something, get her to the emergency room. The ER does take care of suicide related stuff. If I were you, I'd probably call the national suicide hotline myself, 1-800-273-TALK (8255), they can probably give you better advice than me, and it's free and confidential. I'm not free though.

[spitfireashlea]

There is always the national suicide hotline. Also, if she is religous at all you can utilize the church. She should be able to go through either of them without any fear of losing her kid. I'm in the military and get free health care, so I take it for granted very often, but I can see how this can be a very tough situation.

I am going to offer the hotline, atleast so she can get some kind of counceling. Still, I am not sure how to get her the perscriptions she needs. :\

[jnite]

JMHO but if she is really that suicidal she and you shouldn't be worrying about her child being taken away, she and you should solely be focused on getting her better, because if she really did go through with the suicide bit, then where would her child be????? Sorry if I sound harsh or rude because I don`t mean to be, I`m just trying to help and this is VERY VERY serious, she needs to get better. Maybe there is somebody her child can go to for awhile so she can get better

[spitfireashlea]

Ok maybe I should add more information to this.

She is not my just my friend, shes my girlfriend. We were going to move in together, she was excited about our relationship and then bam, two days ago she told me she is not ready to be in a relationship and ended it out of no where. I am staying at a friends right now while she takes time.

She has been talking to me and says she is really depressed and is pushing me away cause thats all she knows how to do.

Her son is her life, she wont give him up and doesnt want them to take him away because she is depressed which they will do if she is admitted.

she cant afford really anything right now, im so lost..i dont know how to help her. I'm going to call the hotline now, but she needs those meds, and she knows it.

[wolfy-hound]

If she is suicidal, you should stop worrying about how to get meds for her and call the suicide hotline yourself and explain. How are you going to feel if you find out she killed herself because she didn't seek help for fear of losing her kid? You're lucky that she feels you are a close enough friend to turn to, to let you know how she is feeling, so help her and her son by calling the right people and explaining what it going on. Medical professionals can assess the situation and decide what help they can give her. If she puts herself into the medical hands for treatment, she can probably dictate who takes care of her son while she's getting treatment.

The child doesn't need to be taken care of by a suicidal person. Sorry. That's the important thing. People who are not thinking clearly can make a bad choice in very little time.

She can look for low-cost clinics, go to the ER, call her doctor and explain and see if she can get an appointment. She cannot simply restart the drugs if the doctor cancelled them because she no-showed to appointments though. She would have to be seen by a doctor that can say what prescriptions she needs. Unfortunately, there is no legitimate source for drugs other than going through a medical doctor, whether it's the ER doctor, a clinic doctor, or the state hospital doctors. She can alse try looking for a womens clinic, like the places that counsel pregnant girls about abortions or adoptions and such, and see if they can help her out with a low cost place to see her.

Good luck, and I hope she gets some help quickly.