Dear Dr. Roberta,
My son is 28 years old and the doctors think he belongs in a mental hospital. I think he just needs a good talking to. I don’t want him to go into the hospital because when my father went in many years ago they kept him until he died of old age. How can I stop this?
Concerned Mother, Nevada
Dear Concerned,
Don’t worry. Nowadays it is very hard to get into a psychiatric hospital and even more difficult to get them to keep you longer than a week or two. If doctors think your son needs help, then this is the time for him to get it. He’s young enough to have his symptoms taken care of and then go on to have a good, full life. If a good talking to would help him he’d already be cured.
– Dr. Roberta