Still concerned to get Mental Health Therapy for Son

Hello.

Again this is a quick one, after a longish gap - I have to be off-line fairly soon. My son Tom had another breakdown after his first spell in the acute mental health acute ward. He is back in there now, and we are looking for a place for him just "to be safe" and get better under expert supervision. We are seeking therapeutic centres where he can be resident, but come and go in the evenings, and receive therapy as he goes along. Tom is still very jumpy and shaky - when we are with him in the street, he gets nervous tics that make him appear to be running away. It is rather scary, as he was running right off at the time when he was drinking.

Yesterday we visited a very good place in Richmond - Lancaster Lodge, where they live as a community with 11 residents, and there are staff who live and work alognside. There is a structured daily programme of events and group meetings, which Tom can drop out of if he needs to be somewhere else. They organise "life skills" which he seriously lacks in some areas - learning to manage one's money, cooking and shopping for things, large and small. The training background is cognitive therapy within psychology, but also along dynamic theoretical lines.

The "vibe" or atmosphere of the house was good, and Tom liked it. He could see himself living there. However, he has to see 3-4 other similar places, and then decide. There is a waiting period of about 5-6 weeks for this place; he will have to stay off drink until he gets a place. The other residents seemed OK - a mix of people: all with mental problems. They do their own cooking and shopping. The only problem I saw was that the main common room was a smoking area - and it smelt of smoke. It would NOT suit me, as I have asthma. But Tom said it would not bother him - as passive smoking is not what he is worried about just now. There is another room that is non-smoking, but it is smaller; he could go in there to be alone, read or watch a video, or play his guitar. Another man there also plays guitar (electric - his is acoustic). On the whole the residents have their own rooms which they can decorate as they like; there is a large garden, and apparently a cat (formerly a stray). Tom will like that, as he may miss his own cat at home - Whitton, who is now 17. They have occasional open days when friends and family can visit (there's barbecue in the garden).

Tom is having a series of interviews and appointments to get him into some sort of deeper therapy very soon. The house we visited in Richmond was ideal, and also near some very good walks and lovely views of the River Thames: not far away from our home. We will have to wait a few more weeks to see whether he moves on there, or to another place. But this was a flavour of what is out there for him. His court case was postponed to the end of this month - the day after his 29th birthday. Today he goes to an interview with the Drugs & Alcohol Team at Richmond Hospital - for further counselling. We await new developments... The worry is not over for us yet, as he is still not really better. The doctors have increased his daytime medication too.

That is all for now. I have to eat lunch - then with a friend I am going to a local craft fair, while Dave goes over to take Tom to his appointment. I had a driving lesson yesterday and got on quite well, considering I had not driven for nearly 3 weeks (due to having to cancel one - losing more money - when Tom was unwell again.) Cheerio and God Bless,

Love, Tigey.