"Schizophrenia - Mental Health Act - Community Treatment Order"

My son was diagnosed with Schizophrenia in 2004. He was 'dabbling' in marijuana and other substances which, i was told by the clinicians exacberated his illness. He has had numerous sections under the Health Act since that date and numerous 'stays' in a clinic.

He is now on a Community Treatment Order - he has not received any 'therapy' no counselling but lots of tablets when he is admitted to the 'clinic',as far as I can tell he seems to basically tell them what he wants!!

Myself and my older son have been left to monitor his whereabouts, have been left to telephone the police when we havent seen him for days and when he has been 'off on a mission' and on numerous occasions we've been told by people who are supposed to be 'helping' him that he is 'just a bad boy'! That's an easy 'cop out' isn't it.

I feel if he had received some counselling and behavioural therapy we would not be at this stage where he has basically just been left to 'wander'. Great idea 'care in the community' but in our case it's basically meant 'leave the family to get on with it'.

God help anyone who has a family member with a mental illness.We havn't been able to rely on the NHS to help out - they've given us lots of telephone numbers for people who can 'help' us but they've just passed us from pillar to post and I feel like they've just hoped that we'll get so fed up that we won't bother them any more.

It feels to me that my son is just another statistic in what I feel is an already crumbling health service!