Just to Keep Her Alive

My patient is 18. Depressed, shy, withdrawn, and with a very low self-esteem. She has suicidal thoughts and can’t see a future for herself.

I’ve managed twice to get her to agree to admission, and on both occasions she’s discharged herself on day two because they’ve insisted on weighing her. She’s so shy she won’t talk to anyone. She’s had bad experiences in the past in ED, and tells them just what they want to hear to send her home and “see your GP”.

I can see her spiralling down. I’m seeing her several times a week, just to keep her alive. It’s suffocating.