Okay. I was going to speak about it one day on this tumblr. so why not now. I had a friend to which this situation arrived. Mental health episode, becoming extra toxic, friendship done. With... a twist. And horrifying one, from my POV, at least.
The person wasn't refusing treatment. They were hesitating to get it. And when they asked if they should get to psychiatric hospital to our common group of friends. And everyone knew their mental state wasn't good. They spent their days and night crying. And me and all the friend I'm talking about personally witness them being in this state. And we had seen them falling to depression for months. And before, we saw them when they were well and under treatment (they had to stop because of transphobia). But despite the very clear degradation, everyone answered to them, "oh no you don't have to if you don't wanna. It's really your choice. We are your friend, we are here for you".
Personally, I had known my limit with other people having mental health issues. This person had already spent a night at my flat crying. I knew I couldn't take it, And I would be of no help. So in the middle of all the "do what you want", I said "well, actually, I think you really should go to the hospital. We are not professional, and you need actual real help right now." But someone cuted me and told me "er... yeah no. It's their choice. You shouldn't push them."
So I shut my mouth. Because I'm a weak ass who is afraid that people are going to be mad at me (I have my own 15 years long trauma attached to it. So don't come to shit me around because I couldn't do more)
One month later, all the mentally stable friends had turned their back on that person. Whaou. surprise surprise people. They actually couldn't handle it. They are not equipped professionals. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGH ??? ME MAY BE ????? TOO BAD I DIDNT SAY !! WAIT !!! I FUCKING DID !!!!
Result : all the spoon of everyone gone, friendship destroyed, everyone TW activated, and a mentally ill person still not in the hospital, and totally isolated.
And what ended me the most is that the person had described to us how they acted during an episode. We knew they could become extra toxic. But everyone decided to that it couldn't be that bad (which is like.... the story of valids coming across disable people, either it's physically or mentally. It's never that bad. We are always exaggerating). They came to us when It was becoming bad, and all my friend directed him to "worst", and then acted surprised when the worst happened.
So like, healthy people, when a mentally ill person ask you if they need more help, and they are not okay, don't sugar coat things to try to please them !! You are helping no one. And I'm not saying "force them to go to the hospital". But you need to tell them the truth as you see it when they ask for it. (but like, generally, don't outright lie to people when they ask you anything)
So like, for mentally ill people, if your friends were done with you just after giving you the same kind of extremely shitty advice, just like the one I described... Well, first, I'm sorry it happened to you. And also : they were bad and toxic friends anyway. You will find better one day.