I was just watching congressman Brown on the ED Show telling people they should get treatment for major depressive disorder by going to the Emergency Room.
People who are suicidal should go to the emergency room; however, I think it is important that everyone know about 1-800-LIFENET. Obviously, he didn't.
This is a 24 hour telephone number that anyone can call that can hook people up with psychiatric services in their area. For people without insurance they will help find sliding scale clinics and for people with insurance they will help find a doctor that takes that specific insurance.
Emergency rooms (at least in my state) will not practice out patient psychiatry (ie: give out prescriptions to patients.) The doctors there will only make decisions about whether a person needs inpatient treatment or not.
If a patient doesn't require hospitalization then they are refered to LIFENET - among other places.
Watching the ED Show reminded me of an old diary here about a year ago where the diarist had no idea about this national service and was desperately seeking psychiatric care.
Before publishing this diary I called LIFENET and asked them about their funding. The person who answered the phone said they were non-profit, partially funded by the government and partially by donations.
Just wanted to make sure Kossacks knew about this as the days shorten and winter approaches.
Take care.