Parents of mentally ill adult children have few options.

[bobclark86]

50. I know somebody

in this exact same position. Actually, I know several.

For example, my father was distraught when my mother left him, and he attempted suicide. Fortunately, he was voluntarily admitted to a psych ward at a hospital. That was four Thanksgivings ago I haven't spoken to him since, and he's just now starting to get back on track (odd jobs fixing people's furniture and such, but at least he isn't living off SSI anymore... he used to be a computer engineer raking in the big bucks). I feel almost as helpless as you do, as there is nothing I can do to help him right now.

Another is a girl who was abused (pretty much every way) growing up. She's in jail now for stealing a credit card number. A couple friends are working with the district attorney to see if she can't get into a program somewhere.

We need to carefully figure out a way to help people that need it, while making sure the system is free from abuse (like a preacher committing their child, with the help of a conservative judge, because their child is gay or had an abortion... stranger things have happened in this country and still do).

It's sad to say, but as it sits now, the only way your child will get help is if you call the cops for assault. With a decent DA, you could work out something to get them help. That and lobbying for change.

Good luck.