About a decade ago I started University in the UK. Towards the end of my first year a friend I made began to become paranoid. His behaviour towards me was particularly troubling, and eventually rumours circulated that he had been institutionalised. I have always wondered what happened to him, and if he is OK. My concerns linger these many years later, but tracking him down online has achieved nothing. Is there any way I can find out if everything turned out alright for him, preferably without causing too many ripples? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Feb 11, 2013 - 12 answers

I'm 24, and I live in the suburbs a half-hour north of Boston. I'm about to get health insurance that includes mental care. I don't know how the private healthcare system works. How should I get a mental-health diagnosis? What doctors and therapists in the area could help me with whatever problems I may have? Details inside. [more inside]
posted by Rustic Etruscan on Feb 1, 2013 - 8 answers

I'm badly depressed and anxious. And I've got the worst job of my life - I'm 42, so that's saying a lot - complete with a boss I despise and who seems to despise me. My therapist thinks I should quit. Um, hello? Realistically, what can I do? Special flower BS inside. [more inside]
posted by Jaie on Sep 22, 2012 - 26 answers

Freaked out like crazy: I ran a red light and put myself and others in very real danger. How did I forget how to drive safely for 10 seconds? [more inside]
posted by chocolatemilkshakes on Mar 27, 2012 - 49 answers

Has someone violated my rights? [more inside]
posted by defmute on Oct 24, 2011 - 14 answers

You're a young person, in your 20s or so, and you've noticed that quite a few of your similarly-aged peers & friends are in desperate need of care due to major mental and emotional health challenges - which are taking a toll on everything else. However, support services for this group are lacking. What could you learn or train in to be able to be a better source of support and care for your peer community? [more inside]
posted by divabat on Oct 20, 2011 - 11 answers

How do you deal with difficult family situations without imploding? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 30, 2011 - 8 answers

Metaintervention: My Mom tries to control everything at the cost of her health and personal relationships. Resistant to therapy. How can I persuade her to see things in a different, more reasonable light? [more inside]
posted by aca.int on Sep 1, 2011 - 14 answers

Mentally ill brother is getting worse...and worse...and worse. What are our options? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jul 23, 2011 - 12 answers

I can't keep going like this. [more inside]
posted by altopower on Jun 28, 2011 - 84 answers

Help me navigate Kaiser Permanente's mental health services. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 25, 2011 - 7 answers

TL;DR My boyfriend has asked for psychiatric help, but he is unemployed and uninsured. I don't know where to look or where to start. [more inside]
posted by lisawin on Jan 27, 2011 - 17 answers

Where can I find quality, affordable mental health care in San Diego? [more inside]
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl on Nov 5, 2010 - 1 answer

I just joined Kaiser in Los Angeles. My primary facility will probably be the complex at Sunset and Vermont. I need a primary care physician, and I need a shrink. [more inside]
posted by kensington314 on May 10, 2010 - 3 answers

I've been prescribed Sertraline (Zoloft) for depression. I've never taken any SSRI or depression drug before. What can I expect? What should I do or not do?
posted by anonymous on Jan 28, 2010 - 27 answers

How do I navigate Social Security to qualify for Medicaid, SSI and disability for mental health services? How do I find an advocate to guide me through the walls of paperwork and decisions? Sub-question: what are current mental health institutions like for in-patient treatment? [more inside]
posted by loquacious on Nov 5, 2009 - 13 answers

My downstairs neighbor, who is most likely schizophrenic, has been harassing my wife and me. Our landlord seems unenthusiastic about evicting her, and we are unenthusiastic about moving ourselves. What legal options can I pursue? Does anyone in Chicago have personal experience with a (cheap!) lawyer they might recommend? [more inside]
posted by ztdavis on Jun 17, 2009 - 47 answers

[NewDadFilter:] I'm a shy person and a new dad. Is there anything I can do to keep from transmitting that trait to my kiddo? [more inside]
posted by wheat on Mar 6, 2009 - 23 answers

How can I trust people again? (Lengthy, can also be characterized as "whiny".) [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Mar 3, 2009 - 13 answers

Australian (and U.S.) Mental Health/Legal Filter. Can you just go and talk your GP into having someone put through a psychiatric evaluation? [more inside]
posted by metalheart on Feb 1, 2009 - 14 answers

What are a few significant things you wish you did when you were younger that you believe would have helped better preserve your mental and physical health? What are a few significant things you did do in the past that you now see paying dividends? [more inside]
posted by schroedinger on Oct 14, 2008 - 41 answers

Recommendations or help with finding low cost therapy in the Philadelphia area for anxiety and depression. Any particular schools, agencies or companies that you know of or have used would be great.
posted by antisocialiting on Dec 26, 2007 - 2 answers

I often seem to confuse what other people want or think for what I want or think. I'm fearful this has led to me making a number of decisions I'll ultimately be unhappy with, and may make more in the future. I'm also afraid I'll hurt others as well. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jul 31, 2006 - 17 answers

What have been your experiences with the effect of changes in diet and nutrition on depression? [more inside]
posted by echo0720 on May 24, 2006 - 31 answers

How to cope with unpleasant and not fully explainable longterm medical issues? [more inside]
posted by plinth on Dec 1, 2005 - 10 answers

I am in search of supplemental mental health insurance (in the US). Does such a thing exist? I'm a full-time grad student about to lose my awesome COBRA benefits from my past job. I'm going on to my husband's plan, which has crappy mental health coverage (only 20 therapist visits a year vs. 45 with my last insurance). I need weekly visits, but there's no way to change the plan. I've googled for supplemental health insurance, but I mostly get sites for those on Medicare. I've checked several major insurance companies, but none have any specifics about their mental health coverage. Has anyone else dealt with this situation? Perhaps someone who works in the insurance industry can point me in the right direction?
posted by anonymous on Dec 19, 2004 - 4 answers

I think one of my close friends has developed a serious drug addiction. They used to be an active, hard-working, happy person, but in the last couple of months they are reluctant to socialize, ended all outside commitments, are barely sleeping, have seriously neglected their hygiene, and I just found out they have stolen thousands of dollars from their work, at which they are well paid, in the last month. I thought it was 'just' depression, but the money seems to point to something worse and there is a history of casually using hard drugs. They don't seem to want help, so will it do any good if I try? Does anyone have any experience with interventions, or is that just something people do on television?
posted by anonymous on Nov 17, 2004 - 12 answers