Do you think it’s a safe environment for a 9 year old child to be home alone with someone who is showing severe signs of a mental illness/instability?

Question

Paranoia, hallucinations, delusions. No one will help do anything about this and I’m at my wits end. CPS has been involved and I’m currently in the application process with the crisis center for a court appointed attorney to possibly get a TRO. I don’t know what else to do.

Answer

I think this depends on the type and severity of the mental illness. Some people have mental illnesses and are still very functional people that are great with children. I think also whether this person has presented a danger to the child in the past should be considered; if so, then the child should definitely not be left with the person.
But, just because someone has a mental illness doesn’t necessarily mean they are unfit to be parents or guardians and that you should take the kid away from them, because this can cause even more harm to a child. I don’t think this is a very clear cut, yes or no situation.

Answer

This is my post. I’m aware that mental illness of any kind does not automatically make a person or situation dangerous, BUT, when the parent has blocked off contact from the outside world, not allowed anyone else into the home, has boarded up her bedroom windows, claims to hear voices that are telling her what to do and say, locks her closet door because he thinks someone is hiding in there, tells her people are breaking into their home in the middle of the night, stealing things and moving them around, and even worse, telling her these people are trying to take her away, patting her down to make sure she doesn’t have anything on her (not sure what he’s looking for), scanning every room in the house with a gun, has small recording devices and cameras throughout the house, several locks, including Padlocks, which you need a key to open on the inside of the front and back doors, etc. the lists goes on and on! 
This person has not been diagnosed with anything, but has been contacted by multiple people (family members) to seek psychiatric evaluation and will not do it. This is scaring my daughter and and I’m in fear he will do something that will hurt her.

Answer

Do they have schizophrenia? Mental illness does not equal dangerous. Even schizophrenia. I have a friend with schizophrenia who is also a teacher. He is the biggest sweetheart and the farthest thing from dangerous, he just hears things sometimes 🤷🏼‍♀️

Answer

I think it depends on type of hallucinations/delusions.

Answer

It depends i have mental health and have 3 children and am pregnant with baby 4 just depends on the person and struggle/ backstory

Do you think it’s a safe environment for a 9 year old child to be home alone with someone who is showing severe signs of a mental illness/instability?

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