Posted on Jul 8, 2016
Can the VA institutionalize me against my will?
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I took a test that showed my depression and anxiety had sky rocketed. Now there are rumblings from the VA of a possible stay at an in-patient clinic. This scares the hell out of me. Can they do that?
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 17
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No one can institutionalize you against your will without a court order. The police can do it temporarily if there is an immediate threat to safety, but they will still have to get a court order to make it stick.
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SrA Paul Pfeil
SPC George Adkins - I'm Aware Baker Act Is Florida. Every state has a similar law. There is also a federal law that backs each state in involuntary cases. I suggest research. Arkansas and new York call it involuntary
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SPC (Join to see)
I was Baker Acted in Fl. The process went as follows. I was in Veterans court at the time, which was a form of diversion that was overseen primarily by the state VA rep. During this I was required to have monthly probation meetings and court dates where i had to report that I was keeping all my VA appointments and counseling. I missed a VA appointment with psychiatry. VA recommended I do treatment based off the record they had accumulated during this time. I Refused. 2 Weeks later I was served a warrant and placed in Jail under the jurisdiction of VA court.(apparently the VA reached out to my family and didnt like what my family had to say) Placed on ROR into treatment facility.Spent 10 days in jail before a bed opened. Spent 3 Days in a Crisis Stabilization Unit.(these 3 days here was under the baker act). On my 3rd day at CSU I received court orders to treatment. With me being already in the VA court system It wasn't that hard for them to send me to treatment. While I was in CSU I saw tons come in and live within hours because their first sit down with the DOC showed them that they didn't need to be treated. They can hold up to a MAXIMUM of 72 hours under the BAKER act. During this time they can conclude whether to release or push for a court order.
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SPC (Join to see)
Your best bet is to cooperate as much as you can without giving in entirely. The more you fight the more they will want to do it. If anything do the intake EVAL. If you pass you pass. If you dont, you should do it. I am honestly thankful the VA went a little ruff with me.
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I do not truly know and I am sure you can contact the hospital liaison. I have to say, why would you not accept help is they are offering. We hear every day about Vets not being able to get help or treatment-if you need it, get it!
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CSM Darieus ZaGara
I guess I am saying if it was me and I was told that they had these concerns about me, I would hope that my loved ones would encourage me to volunteer. In this day and age their is no negative connotation for Service members to seek help when necessary. We cannot always do it on our own!
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That doesn't sound good and kind of blows but I don't think they can Institutionalize you against your will just because you are depressed. They can recommend it to you but I think the Benchmark is that you are a clear threat to yourself or others and just because you are depressed doesn't make you a threat.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
CPT Joseph K Murdock - A degree of Paranoia I would call a reasonable reaction. Hopefully you can keep yaking with us. I would Miss You Capt'n but if they have some good game plans to help ya, Give it a shot.
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Maybe you should think about taking them up on it. If they ran tests and you know your depression and anxiety are out of control, then you may benefit from the stay
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CPT Joseph K Murdock
I don't know what it means to be in control or out of control. Are the perceptions different?
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1SG Bill Farmerie
If they are recommending it, it might be necessary. One of my former soldiers begged them to admit him, but they did not. He ended up committing suicide. So let them if they feel it is necessary
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CPT Murdock, I am sorry to see that you are suffering from the same issues that i am. with that being said, I had to seek out a therapist to speak to on a monthly basis. this along with the medication I am on has helped me a lot. I still have good and bad days, but if I have a bad day I know I can call my therapist and if she is in a session she will call me right back to talk to me.
it sounds like you need to be able to talk about your inner demons without being judged. the VA has staff there that is willing to help you, ,you just have to ask for that help.
don't let your depression, anxiety, and paranoid frame of mind keep you from seeking the help and the counseling you may need to get back on the right track to recovery.
God bless and stay safe.
it sounds like you need to be able to talk about your inner demons without being judged. the VA has staff there that is willing to help you, ,you just have to ask for that help.
don't let your depression, anxiety, and paranoid frame of mind keep you from seeking the help and the counseling you may need to get back on the right track to recovery.
God bless and stay safe.
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CPT Joseph K Murdock
I don't know what is right. I never thought my depression and anxiety are such I need intensive therapy. You know, you win some and lose some.
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PFC (Join to see)
CPT Joseph K Murdock - a lot of times we can be our own worst enemy when it comes to making choice if we need help or not. I thought I could tough it out, but there were a string of events that happened that if I hadn't been talking to a therapist, you and I would not be having this conversation right now.
talk to a therapist, talk to a priest or pastor. just talk to someone that is able to help deal with the pressures of what is going on in your life before it gets too overwhelming and you find yourself in over your head. you may not intend to harm yourself or a loved but people in the darkest hours have been known to do so without knowing that they are doing it.
I don't know you personally or professionally, but I feel a closeness to you. I know that your darkest days can be some of the brightest outside but inside you are hurting so bad you don't know which way is up. that is when you need your therapist to call on and say that you need to just to bend their ear. sometimes that is all one needs.
I am here for you, you can inbox me, friend me, and I will listen to you. Just do not let yourself go silent without reaching out to someone.
talk to a therapist, talk to a priest or pastor. just talk to someone that is able to help deal with the pressures of what is going on in your life before it gets too overwhelming and you find yourself in over your head. you may not intend to harm yourself or a loved but people in the darkest hours have been known to do so without knowing that they are doing it.
I don't know you personally or professionally, but I feel a closeness to you. I know that your darkest days can be some of the brightest outside but inside you are hurting so bad you don't know which way is up. that is when you need your therapist to call on and say that you need to just to bend their ear. sometimes that is all one needs.
I am here for you, you can inbox me, friend me, and I will listen to you. Just do not let yourself go silent without reaching out to someone.
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CPT Joseph K Murdock
PFC (Join to see) - That's what gets me, I don't think I suffer much. I am on cruise control.
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I guess what turns my stomach is I am not going to hurt myself or others. Just leave me alone as I go on in my life.
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mental health hygiene laws, in civi world it does happen, if drugs and alcohol are a problem family members can call police, especially if there is mental health issues attached, and harm to others or self is suspected, in my time working in er it did happen not often but it did and a few were vets, it was sad then and still is. if its depresion/anxiety i would think that your 2nd is good, you just need better or diferent meds, on the other hand psychotic well thats whole different world of shit. cpt i have thought of you as as mentor, you went thru your own hell, and came back you can make it thru this, when i went thru it at first i had the same feelings, i still have my rifle and shotgun 3 years later, they never leave my locker, until hunting season.
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CPT Joseph K Murdock Are you on any type of meds which do any good or help at all? Meds have helped me for many years when the talking drs and good-time support groups didn't.
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It will require a court order and involuntary psychiatric admissions do occur. If may be a good thing in the long run if it means you are able to get more dedicated help and a reset.
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CPT Mark Gonzalez
I would add that they are rare. All any of us can ever do is try and make the next day better and that is one day at a time. I hope you have a great weekend.
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AS far as I know from a medical perspective they cannot forcibly institutionalize someone unless they are a danger to themselves or others.
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CPT Joseph K Murdock
The only thing that brings volatility to my life is one of my daughters. She is verbally abusive.
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