What if mental health professionals cannot help

by John

From John, with Elly's reply.
What are the potential risks involved should mental health professionals be unable to help a client who is clinically depressed and is at the age of 72.

Elly's reply

You are asking me a tricky question, John. I am not sure what exactly you mean, but it is almost as if you would like me to put on record that the client will be at risk of committing suicide (I may have got that wrong of course). However, I am not going to say that.

Firstly, I do not believe that anyone is beyond hope - even if mental health professionals cannot provide any more and have offered all they are able to. There is a limit to what anyone/any service can provide.

Secondly, ultimately we are responsible for ourselves and our own well-being.

That means that if mental health professionals cannot help a client who is suffering from clinical depression, that client is at risk of remaining depressed.

The degree to which that client remains depressed, in my view, depends to a large extend on what other resources he/she is able to access - within him/herself and within the community (any community). See The Human Givens.

I cannot comment any further than that, John, as I do not have any information about your circumstances.

Wishing you well.

Elly

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