How do I help my brother serious mental illness?

[TrfrmBne]

Hi all
I’ll try to describe the situation and keep it short and concise.
My brother has been battling depression/mental health from the age of 17 (as to what I can tell). He is now 33.
He was a talented, popular, life of the party, good looking bloke, a ‘natural’ at all board sports and a great musician.
He finished high school at the age of 17 then completed a 4 year Electrical apprenticeship.
Toward the end of the apprenticeship the early signs of low self esteem were beginning.
Always doubting himself, asking family members if he 'was an idiot' or 'sounded like a dickhead’.
He completed the apprenticeship but has not worked since.
Lives with my parents in the same bedroom he grew up in.
His daily routine is this: sleep until midday, drink 1 litre of coffee, go back to his room, closed the door, closed the blinds until dark. Once complete darkness, he takes the family dogs for a walk for 1 hour. Sometimes taking a skateboard with him. Then eats dinner that my mother cooks by himself in his room.
He has a tablet with wifi. But other than that I cannot get into the room (he locks it) to see what else it in there.
He never goes out in public. He rarely talks to my parents.
I feel like my parents are “enabling” him to continue this down this path.
They feel that he is going to “snap out of it” one day and that is all that can be done. They provide him kind of healthy food, fuel, a car and free rent.
He is incredibly skinny almost malnourished.
He has not communicated with me in years, despite my calls, txts & emails.
I have been to multiple mental health facilities here in Australia over the years to see what can be done. I have been told that unless he is physically hurting himself or others there is legally nothing that I can do.
I feel it has been long enough and some drastic change has to occur, eg get the men in the white coats to forcibly remove him to a mental health facitliy. Whether or not that is a good idea, I am not sure.
I have been living in a different city and overseas, but try to visit as much as I can.
Has anyone else been in this situation and is there anything I can do to help?
Thank you

[Matches]

Hi TrfrmBne,

Good on you for going the extra mile!!

This is a really complex situation, the only advice I can offer is to write to the Chief Psychiatrist in your state. Most local health services will not act unless there is a significant risk of harm to himself or others (as you're probably aware).

In my state, mental health laws allow for an examination authority, where a team will enter the home with legal authority and determine if further action is required.

I hope this helps.

Matches.

[smallwolf]

Hi TrfrmBne,

It sounds like it would be frustrating for you to "see" what your brother is going through, and your trying to help falls onto deaf ears.

The unfortunate thing is that unless your brother wants to get help, there is little that can be done, except to remind him that you care about him and what happens to him (vs "You need to get help", or "Why aren't you..." which might invoke an angry response if any.

I can tell from your posts that have also spoken to your parents about the situation as well. Perhaps another conversation is needed, and if you google something like

how to get family member to see a therapist

you will get a few useful pages of how to go about this conversation. And if your parents believe that it a phase, perhaps to ask them what makes them believe it he will snap out of it. And be patient also. At this moment also keep doing what you are, be encouraging and let him or her know your love and support are unconditional, and you will be there every step of the way

Tim

[TrfrmBne]

Hi guys,

Thank you for your comments and advice, I am now looking into it.

Have a great day