Anyone in the mental health field, or people who have experience with it...

Could you please help me help my cousin?

She is 19 years old, and has been suffering from bulemia for 5 years. We just found out about it. She lost a crazy amount of weight this year (over 80 lbs) and she said that it was because she became anorexic. My aunt and uncle put her into Scheiders eating disorder program (inpatient) but she wasnt getting any better. She actually kept losing weight. I know that she could have been losing weight because she couldnt exercise, but her metabolism was still going (she used to exercise for 3 hours or more a day). Anyway, they pulled her out. She does not have insurance either.

She was just checked at the ER yesterday and her potassium level was 3.5, and they said that if it gets to 3 it could be fatal. My aunt is freaking out. My cousin also has other mental health issues, and has been seeing a psychiatrist and my aunt pays out of pocket. The dr said yesterday, we can't let this girl die just because she doesnt have insurance.

Any advice on what she can do, either about the insurance or about programs that she can go into? My mother said the problem with the insurance is that none of them cover mental health.

Anything that you can offer me, I will be grateful for. I really don't even know what to do for my aunt anymore.

Re: Anyone in the mental health field, or people who have experience with it...

first of all - i'm sorry you are going through this... its really hard to watch someone go through something mental health related.. i've done it & it suucks!!

second - is she still in the ER? if she is - a hospital social worker should help her apply for insurance when they hear she has none. if she still lives at home, she should qualify for Healthy NY through HIP - my brother has it... i think its like $200 a month

mental health services are really tricky when it comes to health coverage... basically, they have to see a NEED for the service in order to approve the coverage... i used to have to hospitalize kids all the time (im a social worker) and the insurance was rejected a lot of the time.

if she was in an inpatient program before, why not try another one... except maybe she should go AWAY to one - like in another state. the best thing for someone that is so mentally ill like that is to get completely out of their environment and get better... then she can move into a sober living place (sounds very addict recovery like i know, but bulimia and anorexia are pretty much an addiction)

FM me if you need anymore advice, but i would really advise sending her away somewhere

Re: Anyone in the mental health field, or people who have experience with it...

I am not sure what her income is but medicaid or emergency medicaid should be able to help. They should treat her and then apply for this in the mean time. Social Workers at the hospital should be able to help. If she is sick and other issues are going on then is an emergency. Social Workers can sometimes find group homes once she is healthy enough that work off donations. I went through mental health issues and drug abuse with my cousin. I know its a little different but he also had no insurance and in the end his social worker saved his life. Good Luck. I will say a prayer for her.