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Something’s not right

Rozee12
Casual Contributor

Advice needed please please please

This is a bit of a crisis post for me to write so please bare with me.

My cousin (27) has a diagnosis of schizophrenia, agoraphobia, and bipolar and has been living homeless on the streets of Brisbane for the last 7 years. He regularly throws his phone away because according to him it’s tapped. He has absolutely no one in this world except for his Mum and me. However his Mum has a police issued DVO against him because of his erratic behaviour and how terrified he can make her feel. He done a 3 month jail sentence (November 2021) for breaching the DVO, train fair evasion, petty theft, and hitting a taxi driver in one of his delusions. I tried contacting him in jail, but he refused any contact and the first contact he had with me was maybe 3 months ago.

His mum and I both give him money - $15 a day from his mum so he can eat and I’ll usually transfer around $50 all up a month. However he does get Newstart somehow and has to report. He is constantly losing his id and bank cards and will say people steal from him when he is asleep.

I only get to see him on his terms which I pick him up from the train station, we eat hungry jacks and I listen to him for 3 hours rant and rave in a field and then I drop him back off to the train station with no where to go. It’s heartbreaking.

Just A few things I heard yesterday from him - so apparently he is living at a golf club that leave their shed door open for him. However, the cameras on the train follow him and undercover translink workers who have a deal with the police call him a dog. The songs he listens to make sex noises so he has to change their frequency. Trainslink have told all the shop owners not to let him in because everyone calls him a dog. All the ugly people who aren’t sexually active are the people out to get him, and all the good looking people are the traps. He got drugged and abused in November 2019. All of Brisbane is blown up, everywhere he goes is blown up and everyone tries to set him on fire. His girlfriend he had at 14yr said good boy to him once and that’s why people call him a dog. The church is the mafia that’s full of sexually inactive members who follow him like traps. He says that he wants to end his life because people want him dead and that’s why he harmed himself to make it look that way. But now everyone looks at him like he is a junkie and now he wants to end his life but can’t because they want him dead.

And that was only a minimal amount of what he said that I can think of.

I’m at a loss and I don’t know what to do. His mum is emotionally and financially drained and her heart bleeds so bad for him. He has been in an out of mental health and has completely slipped beneath the radar by lying. He is on parole until November and has to see parole monthly. I don’t understand how parole haven’t picked this up, like he has no address and is clearly delusional. He can keep routine in his head, but 98% of his functioning is through his delusions. It’s just the most heartbreaking thing to have witness for the last 10 years and he is just so miserable. He doesn’t take drugs, but he drinks red wine. He is completely unmedicated and there is no way we could get him to a doctor. I’m the only person he trusts atm, but I could be his worst enemy the next day.

Does anyone have any experience with this? I don’t know where to start, what options do we have left? Thank you 🙏 

5 REPLIES 5

Re: Advice needed please please please

Hi @Rozee12! Welcome to the SANE Forums 💛

First of all: I have to acknowledge the huge amount of support you have provided your cousin. It can often be a thankless job and I can see it has not been an easy journey for anyone involved. Reading your post I can see how much your heart is breaking for him. 

 

I hope that I can be able to provide some resources or support that can be helpful here.

 

Crisis mental health support

From what you have described it sounds like there are very real concerns for your cousin's welfare and mental health. In these times it can be worthwhile calling your local crisis assessment and treatment team (CATT). They are able to asses the need for further intervention and support. 
In QLD this number is: 1300 MH CALL (1300 642255) FREE — 24-hour specialist mental healthcare

SANE also has some information about how to help in a crisis

 

Homeless Hotline

Call 1800 474 753

Homeless Hotline is a phone information and referral service for people who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness.

 

Centacare Prisoner Services 

He may be eligible for Centacare’s prisoner services - Centacare Prisoners Service offers support to the family and loved ones of those in prison as well as the prisoners themselves in the lead up to their release (within 3 months of parole) and for 12 months following

https://centacare.com/community-and-pastoral-care/community-support-education/prisoners-services/

 

Wesley Mission Crisis Relief 

Food parcels, medical script subsidies, financial services and help to find suitable housing in a non-judgemental and supportive environment across Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

https://www.wmq.org.au/crisis-relief

 

Suicide and Crisis Care

Some additional supports for those experiencing suicidal ideation as well as those caring for someone who might be 

https://www.qld.gov.au/health/mental-health/suicide

 

Support for carers in QLD

Importantly, support for the wonderful people like you who are in the role of caring for another:

https://www.qld.gov.au/community/support-for-carers/support-groups-for-carers

 

Of course, we very much welcome you to call through to the SANE Support Centre for additional support and information - Open Monday-Friday, 10am-10pm AEST. 

 

I hope that any of this can be useful and I hope that the Forums community can support you too 💛

 

Kind regards

Peregrinefalcon 

 

Re: Advice needed please please please

Thank you so much. It’s so draining. My heart breaks for his mum so much. I think the only thing I can do for the time being is to try gain his trust and listen to him. He has no one and I won’t ruin my relationship with him for a short stay where he will convince everyone else wise and I will lose my relationship with him. I’m the only person he trusts.

Re: Advice needed please please please

Hey @Rozee12 

 

It's really difficult for a person to get help when they do not want it.  Does his mum need support and are you in a position to help her get the support she needs for this trauma?  

Re: Advice needed please please please

She was seeing a psychologist for a bit but it didn’t really help. What are some options I can talk to her about? @AussieRecharger 

Re: Advice needed please please please

@Rozee12 - I guess the first option may be to understand what kind of support she is looking for during this time.  It could be interaction on a spiritual level or is it might be helping her to do simple things that help her every day, such as cooking, housework and gardening. 

 

I don't know the person and supporting them really depends on what support they need and how they want to be supported during this time. Helping them to have energy can help her to have the energy to sustain the energy needed to continue to hold hope for her son.  

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