A concerned mother recently wrote to psychiatrist Dr. Charles Raison regarding her son’s mental health. He’s been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and says he hears voices telling him to kill himself. The mom is understandably scared and unsure what to do.
“Of the problems you list, the two I worry about most as a psychiatrist are the suicidal thoughts and the psychotic symptoms (i.e. hearing voices)… So job one is to make sure your son is safe. I realize this is easier said than done, but I want to highlight that first and foremost.” [Source: CNN]
Dr. Raison goes on to encourage the mother to continue seeking treatment for her son, even if past treatments haven’t worked. There’s always hope that something else will work, and her son will get better. In the meantime, he advises her to keep an eye on her son and ask for as much help from family and friends as she needs.
Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton