Hi all,

I’m reaching out for some advice on a really difficult situation I’ve recently gone through with a flatmate.

Over the past couple of weeks, I noticed a rapid deterioration in her mental state—she began expressing paranoid beliefs, saying that people were watching her and that the flat was cursed. Things escalated when she made several false accusations against me, including claims that I had been going into her room and using illegal substances—none of which are true.

Unfortunately, it reached a point where she told me to leave and forced me out of the flat late at night (around 11pm), leaving me with my belongings on the street. I’ve got video evidence of her talking to herself and making very little sense, and it’s clear something is really wrong.

What’s been especially shocking is how suddenly this has come on. In the few months I’ve known her, we’ve never had an argument—things were always calm and respectful between us. This recent change has come completely out of nowhere.

I’m now trying to figure out what to do. I know she works with certain agencies and sometimes rents out her room to others. I’m seriously considering notifying those agencies, as I believe she could pose a real risk to clients or anyone who ends up living with her. I don’t want to ruin her livelihood, but I also don’t want to stay silent if there’s potential for someone else to be harmed or put in a similar situation.

I’ve thought about messaging her directly, but I honestly don’t think she would listen to me in her current state, and I’m also concerned that reaching out could escalate things further.

Has anyone been through something similar or have advice on how to handle this? I just want to do the right thing.

Thanks in advance.

Would it be easy for you to leave?

Do you know any of her friends or family members? Maybe you could reach out and help.. or maybe there’s a charity who could get involved? Streetlight are an escort charity (some on here don’t like them but they could advise you who to turn to at least)
Or social workers? Hope you’re ok, must be a lot for you too, having to deal with someone else mental breakdown is not easy!

From what I know, none of her family speak to her or live in the UK. We weren’t friends, and she kept a lot to herself, so it was very hard to know much about her personally.

After everything that’s happened, it’s become pretty clear that she’s dealing with schizophrenia or something very serious mentally. Honestly, I don’t even know if the things she told me about her life are real or not, it’s hard to say what’s true at this point.

It’s a really sad situation overall. I’m going to look at this charity and see if they can help her in some way.

Has there been any evidence of her using drugs ?

It sounds like she needs to be assessed by a professional and possibly sectioned. If you believe her to be a threat to herself or others.

As someone who was in a psycotic episode that was bad enough i had to be sectioned it's nearly impossible to be sectioned in this country unless they view you as a uncontrollable threat to others (they did not section me over repeated suicide attempts or self harm but did over incorrectly being viewed as a threat to NHS staff). I will also say that sectioning is very traumatic and physical and sexual abuse inside is inevitable and that it will make anyone worse and should only be done if you think someone is going to kill themselves and you won't be able to stop it and that PTSD from being sectioned is preferable to outright death. The best thing to do at this point would be to get in contact with family and see if they are willing to intervene and go from there.

Walk Away

Is she seeking any form of medical help from her GP?

Are you able to talk to her when she is lucid?