<p>Dealing with someone with mental illness is not as simple as many want to believe. It is extremely difficult to force someone over age 18 to get help. Even if you are their parents or their children.
I have dealt with mentally ill relatives my entire life, including several mental hospital stays. Even if family feels someone is a harm to themselves it is hard to get the hospital to hold anyone for any length of time. You also have no power over your relative once they are released. The hospital releases the patient with the understanding that the patient will seek outside help. I have failed to see a hospital follow through on that. I had one family member who after a suicide attempt was forced into a 72 hour hold against their will. After 36 hours one Dr was ready to release the patient. A outside therapist pushed the issue and the patient was forced to stay the entire 72 hours. In our case I have also noticed that the hospital stay is little more then watching over them until that suicide threat passes. No real work is done. After release the patient agreed to get some help but on their terms not on the terms the rest of the family wanted. The family has no say in treatment the patient is considered an adult and if the state does not believe the patient is in danger of harming themselve or others at that moment there is little anyone can do.
I also know several young people who while not even close to being suicidal are depressed and the parents are not taking the clue to get their kids a therapist mainly due to denial or not wanting or being able to afford treatment. Therapy can be expensive and most insurance companies have limts on visits and payment.</p>