The waiting list scenario is actually very real in some areas of the country. I have read about wait lists of 3-4 months for adults and children where I'm located in the northeast. I personally had some family trauma 3 years ago and my GP suggested I see someone, but she actually said, "And good luck - they're all short staffed, many are not taking new patients, you've got a long wait. If you're in a crisis, call 911 or go to the ER." Gee, thanks. I wasn't in need of that type of care, but it proved there was no assistance in the meantime other than self-help and many aren't even able to do that or their situation needs something more intense. Sad state our country is in.
Edited to add - I have no idea what excuse his parents were given, or what they perhaps made up. Just was stating my experience and what I've read about the state of mental health care here in the US in general.
Agreed throughout on the lack of available care. I work in counseling in schools and have had students in crisis who were admitted to the hospital but upon release were unable to get followup psychiatrist and therapist care. It is very hard to get what is needed.
Again, I can't imagine that getting care was an option given their abuse actions. The abuse was sustained and would be very hard to pass off as a we were in fear for ourselves or other children. I don't recall that they sought help from their pediatrician either. Given the adoption of this child, a pediatrician would have recommended a developmental pediatrician or an international adoption clinic which are easier to gain access to. Further, they had a homestudy with a social worker before their adoptions that would have had followups once back in the states so that would have been a resource as well as the social worker would have resources that dealt with adoption related issues and behavior issues. While none of these options would have been an instant fix, they had the opportunity to get support from any number of providers. I am an adoptive parent and can say for sure that these resources exist and the support for adopted kids who are in crisis or spiraling out of control.
Yet, there is still the pesky issue of once they were harming him, isolating him and locking him in the homemade box, any provider would have been required to report them.
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