I’m sure this is a familiar experience to most here, but I feel I face constant roadblocks when it comes to accessing the level of care and support that I need for my 16 year old son with schizophrenia. My son has drug seeking tendencies and needs constant supervision. I’m a single mom with two other children and no family support. I feel like I’m personally going to lose my job or wind up losing my mind from the constant stress of caregiving and putting out fires (e.g., 2AM ER visits during psychotic episodes, arguments over medication noncompliance, etc.). I work remotely and am strongly considering moving my family from the US to a country like Argentina that has a better healthcare infrastructure and a favorable exchange rate to assist with hiring some much needed help. I don’t even speak Spanish, but learning Spanish seems like it would be an easier feat than trying to navigate the broken medical system here on top of a lack of financial resources to pay for respite care. Has anyone ever done something like this? Am I being irrational due to being at my breaking point, or might seeking care in a more affordable country be worthwhile? I’d love to know if anyone else has ever considered something like this or might even want to tackle such a project with me in the event creating an assisted living group home environment might be more feasible in another part of the world outside of the US. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Argentina is in turmoil, with hyperinflation and political churn, but that is nothing new. If I were in your position, I would consider Costa Rica. It is like the Switzerland of Central America. It is fairly close to the US, there is a large US expat community, English is widely spoken, the cost of living is about 30% less than the US, it has a fairly stable economy and government, and it has one of the best health care systems in the world.
Thank you. I’m certainly open to options. I’ve also read that Uruguay is stable with excellent healthcare. I’m working on putting together a shortlist of areas where my resources will go further and then will look to hire social workers on upwork from those regions to help me sort out what mental health resources are available. I had also considered Southeast Asia, but my general perception is that the healthcare infrastructure and general perceptions of mental illness are too inadequate in case of an emergency. I want it to be somewhere that will afford the whole family a good quality of life. I also hope that when my son is a bit older that he might be able to live somewhat independently with a bit of assistance from me and hired help. Covering the cost for him to access that support in the states is out of budget, but places with affordable labor and apartment rentals that go for <$500 a month could be feasible for our family. It’s a wild idea, but I worry terribly about him wanting his own independence in a way that will result in homelessness, and that’s such a painful thought to bear, so I’m open to out of the box solutions.
Iit’s not a terrible idea.
But Argentina. Venezuela are not safe. Look at the US State Department.s website for travel alerts:
Also. Check out Mexico City. Not sure about its health care options. But it’s likely to have many good hospitals, doctors.
I hear good things from ex pats who’ve settled there:
Have you been to a NAMI Family to Family support class? They might have some ideas for you.
I would exhaust all resources here before considering moving to a different country (just my opinion)
especially if another language was spoken .
sounds like you want to be able to give your son the best level of care
but you may face more obstacles to overcome in another country with language barriers etc.
how do you think your children would respond to the idea ?
Some US states are more mental health friendly then others NAMI is a great resource as previous poster mentioned
Hi there! I know two people who took their son out of the US to Jamaica and is doing much better. Placed in lock down facilities which is not allowed here and supervised, feed, given medication. They pay money monthly nothing compared to what the US charges and they tell you we can not keep them against there will. You are no alone I have thought about this too!
I apologize in advance, but I am going to be frank. I don’t know where or how you got the idea to move to a foreign country with a SZ teenager, but I think you are seriously misguided. Unless you have relatives and/or friends in a country that can vouch 100% for excellent healthcare for individuals with SMI, you are shooting in the dark. My son’s father (my ex) is from another country that used to be touted as having some of the best medical care in the world, but even then, that was not inclusive of mental health care. His best friend lives just off the coast of Europe, in Cyprus, and also is dealing with a child (in her 40s) with SMI, and he has never been able to get her any supports whatsoever, not even desperately needed medications. His life is one of constant angst and agony and despair…and of course has no hope to cling to for his daughter’s present or future. I agree with you that we are dealing with a system riddled with holes here in the U.S., but nonetheless it remains better than anything you will find overseas. Just a final note: I hope you will continue the fight to get help for your son before he turns 18, because at that point, you lose all rights as a parent. I have dealt with this nightmare going on 8+ years.
Dear Friend,
What a struggle you are dealing with. It’s frustrating and emotionally draining. There is no easy answer but I would also caution you from making a major move, especially overseas as you then are dealing with another language and culture which can be highly stressful. I know Mexico City has excellent health care but not sure about mental health. Again it is often WHO you know in another country to get the needed contacts. Unless you have personal contact with someone in that country it’s not a good move.
You so need ‘hands on’ support I don’t know what state you are in but can you get some support from NAMI or any other related mental health resource. I would call
NAMI HelpLine 800-950-NAMI or info@nami.org. You could also find a warmline -a phone number where trained peer volunteers offer empathy and support. To find a warmline in your area, and information on local social services, dial 211, or go to www.211.org.
Remember YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
Hang in there and make haste SLOWLY.