– Now we had to get Tina back. We should not have to worry more about her life, says Lisa Bergland Felin. news meets her barely a month after her little sister’s funeral. Tina died of an overdose on September 22. 34 years old. The heaviest should on 6 October 2022 see the sun rise in Oslo. Autumn showed off its most beautiful colours. But in Nordstrand church it was grey. The siblings carried a heavy load this day. Krister, who carried his little sister’s coffin to the grave. Lisa, who carried the knowledge that she couldn’t save her. She believes Tina could be alive today, with better follow-up. A cute little girl with a pink bow in her hair. This is how the mother Tina describes it. Here she was proud and happy on the first day of school in 1995. Where on the path of life the little, active girl started getting high, the family does not know for sure. She had probably already started experimenting when this picture was taken. First picture: Østlandets blad. The other photos are private. Now she hopes this story can contribute to action. In addition to Lisa, news has also spoken to her brother Krister and the siblings’ mother. They are left with many questions. Died in Nav housing Barely three weeks before she died, Tina was discharged from Ahus. The family does not know if there was any plan for further help for Tina. The duty of confidentiality stands in the way. Tina died in a temporary home provided via Nav. An unmanned apartment complex where several residents indulged in drugs. This is one of the things the family reacts to the most: That no new and better home was found for her. Although Tina told her family she wanted a new life. – When the aid is not there when you are ready, then you are doomed to fail, says Lisa. Lisa with the program for her sister’s funeral. Tina was around 17–18 years old in the picture on the cover. If she had gotten help already then, things would have been different, says Lisa. Photo: Rolf Petter Olaisen / news Arild Knutsen of the Association for humane drug policy has no doubts: – People are so sick that they should have staffing and follow-up around them. Instead, they are left to fend for themselves. We are throwing money out the window. Nav responds to routines around housing at the bottom of the case. – A small disaster Lisa has notified the National Commission of Inquiry for the Health and Care Service (Ukom) about Tina’s death. The commission has received so many reports of deaths of people struggling with both substance abuse and mental health that they will now investigate how they are followed up. – I think it is a small disaster that we cannot do better as of today. That’s what psychiatrist and professional adviser Lars Lien of the National Competence Service for concurrent substance abuse and mental illness (NKROP) says. A center created precisely because of what Tina’s family tells about: systems that don’t talk to each other. – It just makes no sense to provide good treatment in the specialist health service if you don’t get an offer in the municipality, he says. Lars Lien in the National Competence Service for concurrent substance abuse and mental illness (NKROP) recognizes Tina’s story. Photo: Thomas B. Eckhoff / The Norwegian Medical Association Offer housing on a campsite Because when someone is discharged, the municipality takes over. Then their finances and offer become the governing body. According to Lien, after 12 weeks of treatment at the hospital in Finnmark, patients have been offered accommodation at a campsite. He says patients who come out need their own home, and plans for treatment, work or something else to fill their days with. – If it’s not in place, then you’re going straight to hell again, that is, says Lien. Alta municipality says they have aftercare homes for those coming from treatment. They do not know that any of them have been placed on a campsite. A very few can be placed on a campsite for short periods, but not those who are entitled to aftercare. Have to fight alone Each of the public services is only responsible for its own. The result is that patients and relatives have to do more themselves. – They have to check around themselves and see where they can meet their needs, says Lien. Lisa Felin can sign for that. She says she has called hospitals, municipalities and institutions. The available helplines. – You get the message “call here, call there”. Everyone just throws you around in an eternal circle. No one takes responsibility. Lisa Bergland Felin feels that as a relative she is often seen as a burden. Photo: Rolf Petter Olaisen / news Between all chairs If you struggle with substance abuse, the risk is greater that you also struggle mentally. And the opposite. But then you end up in the middle of nowhere, according to Lisa: Psychiatry says you have to stop using drugs to get help from them. The addiction service says you are too ill for them to help. Lien in NKROP says it is a challenge to get the public to see addiction and psychiatry together. – Because it complicates both ways of treatment. Then it is easier to say “I only see psychiatry”, or “I only see addiction”. But: he believes it is possible to bring about change – over time. The hope that burst For Tina, it is anyway too late. The family had barely regained hope. While she was at Ahus, Tina called her mother. She was crystal clear: now she was bored. She wanted to get her housing and finances in order, get out of her addiction. When she was on her feet again, they could meet. Lisa hoped they could split up. Leave the past behind. For the last few years they have had little contact. There has been too much turbulence. Tina died before they could see each other. – Whether it would have gone one way or the other after that, it is impossible to know. But I would at least wish that we had that meeting and that conversation, says Lisa. news has been in contact with Ahus. They will not comment on Tina’s case. But in general they say, among other things: The need for follow-up before discharge is assessed individually. Plans are made together with the patients for the time being, both during and after admission. Some are followed up by municipalities or districts. The hospital communicates with them about what the patient will need. If the patient has special needs, such as housing with staff, they notify them of this. A social worker contributes by surveying the housing situation. The hospital can give recommendations and advice to the municipality if the patient needs help finding housing. Nav Nordre Follo calls Tina’s death sad, but cannot comment on her individual case. In addition to the fact that after all deaths they make an evaluation of the follow-up and services the person received. But they can say something in general: Emergency housing is the last option when no other housing can be found, and work is being done to find permanent housing for those who live there. Nav follows up based on what the user himself wants. Nav also collaborates with other agencies if necessary. All services are voluntary. Nav does not have an overview of others who live in temporary housing they provide. There are providers of emergency housing who choose to e.g. rent out many units at the same time, often to people with the same challenges. Tina moved into the emergency accommodation in July, and returned there after her stay at Ahus. Hello! Do you have any thoughts about the case you have read? Or more tips about rescue helicopters, facilitation at school, crime or mental health? Perhaps about something completely different from Greater Oslo that should be taken care of? Feel free to get in touch!
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Tina (34) died of an overdose in a Nav home shortly after she was hospitalized – news Oslo og Viken – Local news, TV and radio
