Facebook Group Post
Post Date: 2025-05-30
Most replies were made on 2025-05-30, exceptions are labelled
Facebook like totals were observed on 2025-05-31
Hello everyone,
I am in a difficult situation that I think could be classified as an emergency situation.
I currently am not working and so I do not have any coworkers. I am spending a lot of time at home and I have been trying to find a new job. Unfortunately, I am having a social issue with my friends and family at the same time. My parents absolutely insist that they believe I have a mental illness, without any evidence. They have filled out forms which apparently caused the police to come to my apartment and forcibly bring me to one of the hospitals downtown, in handcuffs, where I was kept in a room against my will that was locked from the outside. To get out of this, I acted as normal and calm as possible, and so they let me go after a few hours. I know my parents well and I do not think they are actually concerned about me. I think what is happening is that they have a psychological need to control my situation, and this is how they do it.
At the moment, I do not have any regular social contact with anyone because of my lack of employment, and because I do not have any close friends. I am worried that the police might come and take me away again, and that because I do not have any regular social contact with anyone who does not think I have a mental illness, if that were to occur, there might not be anyone who would investigate and try to get me out.
I am physically located near [middle of sentence redacted], which is why I am posting in this group.
Does anyone have suggestions for what I can do?
I posted this Facebook group post in a Facebook group for my local neighbourhood.
Here are some of the things I noticed:
- Reply 1, reply 7, reply 31, reply 38, reply 39, reply 44, reply 45, reply 46, reply 47, reply 48, reply 51, reply 52, reply 53, reply 55, reply 59, reply 60, and reply 61 all contained replies which implicitly assumed that my parents were correct, and that I do have a mental illness, without any evidence to support it.
- For some reason, reply 27, reply 29, reply 30, reply 37, and reply 58 all suggested that I should exercise, even though that seems completely unrelated to my original post. Personally, I suspect this is because these are people who live in my neighbourhood and know me as someone who used to exercise in public in the neighbourhood, and found it annoying when I did so.
- Reply 44 has the highest Facebook like total of any reply in the thread. It also occurred late in the thread. In my opinion, the post looks like it could have been posted by someone who was chatting about me with other people in a private chat at the time they were posting.
- Reply 41 and reply 63 specifically complained about the time I put a Palestinian flag on my apartment door and left notes in the hallway. I mentioned this in a public post on my Facebook profile, so they might have read it there, however the fact that they mentioned it shows they have an opinion on it.
- Reply 55 mentioned violating fire regulations, which seems like it might be a reference to the time that the building employees called the fire department and claimed that there was a fire hazard in my apartment. I had not mentioned this online anywhere before the user made their reply.
This user told me they were sorry that I was going through this, but said it was a good sign that I was of sound mind enough to share the story. They asked if I had ever been examined by a professional therapist. They suggested that I should see a doctor and ask for a referral for a therapist. They said that this might be the first step in either clearing my name or understanding that I do actually need help.
I have seen professional doctors and psychiatrists and things like that before. This is actually the second time that the police have forcibly brought me to a mental health institution, they actually did it once before in November 2021.
I have a bit of an unusual personality in some ways I think. However I personally do not see how anything I have ever done is a symptom of a mental illness. I am a pretty rational person and I generally think things through carefully before I do them. That is how I perceive things anyway.
This user suggested that if I had an official record of being deemed stable by a professional, then I should bring that up if it happens again. They suggested that I could contact a lawyer. They told me that they thought there were some that would give free legal advice. They suggested maybe some of the other members could make recommendations. They apologized and told me that they did not have any recommendations.
There were two users who repeatedly tried to insist that I obtain an "offical record of being deemed stable". Personally, I am skeptical that these users were legimiately trying to provide advice. Based on the replies, to me it seems like they were likely being sarcastic.
This user agreed that I should consult a lawyer, and suggested I should try to obtain an official record of being deemed stable that includes a phone number for the doctor, as well as dismissal papers from previous mental health institutions. They told me I should keep those papers on me at all times, so that I can show them to the police if they show up.
Unfortunately I do not have an official record of being deemed stable. I think it is a bit unfair that I should be expected to have one, since I do not feel like I have done anything to deserve needing to have one.
For now, I have purchased a physical copy of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. There is a section 9 that says that I have the right not to be arbitrarily detained. I do not understand why this rule would not apply in my case, it seemed pretty arbitrary to me.
This user told me that it was unfair that I would even be in this situation. They told me that they thought that if I just got that one piece of paper that everyone would leave me alone for sure.
This user told me that it might just turn out that I only have some neurodivergence, like they do. They told me it would prove all of these people wrong and nobody would touch me like that again.
They told me it would only take an hour or two.
This user suggested that if they were me, and this had happened not only once, but twice, that they would go and get professional papers. They told me it was worth my time.
The first time was a pretty interesting story as well. I freaked out when it seemed like my computer was hacked, and when I told people, they thought I had a mental illness.
It seems like people feel that overt displays of emotion are signs of a mental illness. I am not sure why people think that. If I am afraid of something it causes me to react to it and do something about it. I made my computer pretty secure after I thought it was hacked.
Actually you are probably right, if I did actually go through the effort and get an official record of being sane, I would show that off. It could be worth another post into this Facebook group to see what people think.
This user agreed and told me that if I had proof then they would not be able to say anything.
This user told me they were so sorry this was happening to me. They told me they were not far away if I needed to go outside to decompress.
I appreciate your offer, though I think I need to provide a bit more context.
At the same time that I am having this issue with my parents, I am also having a fight with some of the employees in the building that I live in. They have been ignoring legitimate messages from me, and at one point recently I received a package from a courier and the employees in the building ended up returning it to the courier and told them I had moved out, which is not true. So I am not feeling very trusting of the employees, and I am a bit worried about leaving my apartment alone, because they have a key.
Right now I am kinda hoping I might make a social connection with someone else who lives in my building. That way we have a shared interest in figuring out what is happening with the building employees. Though if you actually want to be friends I am genuinely trying to meet people in the neighborhood.
This user asked if I had reached out to upper management or the owner of the building in order to complain about the employees.
Well unfortunately it seems like the upper management and the building owners might be the people that I am having this conflict with. I would rather not escalate beyond them unless absolutely necessary because I actually do hope to get along with these people in the future. I do like living here.
Some of the replies in this thread seem to me like they could be from people who live in my building. Maybe if I can just keep saying things and give examples of my personality besides that I leave annoying notes in the hallway, they will start to view me as somebody they know and they will be okay with me being their neighbor.
This user told me they understood Mental Health and that they had been diagnosed as bipolar. They told me they would meet to talk or get a coffee with me sometime if I wanted.
This user told me that in order to be held against my will in a hospital, a physician would have to fill out a Form 30. They told me that this form is not filled out by my parents. They told me that under the law I had the right to a hearing and a lawyer.
They gave this URL:
https://www.ontario.ca/files/2024-05/moh-information-guide-involuntary-patients-en-2024-05-21.pdf
Yeah, the whole experience seemed really, really suspicious to me, honestly. A whole bunch of police showed up, and they had a form with a bunch of information on it that I did not have time to read, aside from the fact that I saw my parents and some other names on it. I did not understand why they wanted me to leave but they were very insistent that I had to go with them right away. They put me in handcuffs and they told me that they had to do that because "usually people do not want to go". I went with them calmly and acted normally. When I arrived and saw a doctor, they asked if I knew why I was there and I said no. They asked me a bunch of questions about my life, just like about work stress and stuff, and that was about it. At the end they did not really say either way whether they thought I had a mental illness or not.
I specifically recall having a conversation with the police officer where I asked why I could not just make a regular appointment and go some other time. I cannot recall how he phrased the answer but he told me that I could not do that. So it definitely was not by choice.
This user told me that if it happens again, that I should make sure that the police give me the form to keep, and that I should make sure that it is a Form 30. They told me that the police were correct and that I could not just make a regular appointment with the doctor. They told me that I had many rights under a Form 30.
This user disagreed with the previous user and said that the form does not have to come from a doctor. They said that the doctor would have had to had personally examined the person in the last 7 days to use the form. They said that the alternative for a family is to go to a Justice of the Peace with a Form 2.
Yes I am pretty sure it was a form 2. I believe I heard this number referenced when I was chatting with my parents after.
This user asked me if I had considered speaking with a lawyer.
They gave me this URL and suggested that it might be free:
Yeah, I could do that, though I am apprehensive about spending money on a lawyer when I am not making employment income myself. I am not sure what the lawyer would be able to do, either.
Ideally there would be some way to have the government be able to recognize better when someone asking for a forced mental health visit for someone else is making a reasonable request. I am not sure how to do that though.
The other issue I am having right now is a communication issue with the employees in my building, which I described in another reply in this thread. I think this is actually the more immediate issue, I think my situation would be greatly improved if they were communicating with me.
This user pointed out that the URL they gave me was for free legal aid, and that they did not think there would be a fee.
Oh yeah I missed that part when I read your post the first time, yeah that makes sense. Other people have suggested a lawyer before so I had that response ready to go. I will read through the website.
This user told me to do 2 hours of exercise a day, and to apply for jobs 4 hours a day throughout the day.
Yeah I have my bicycle stored indoors on a bicycle trainer that converts it to a stationary bicycle and I am using that every day. It definitely helps.
For jobs I have been doing a bunch of stuff to market myself online. I have been posting on LinkedIn a lot and I made a website with some information about me. Technically even these Facebook posts I am making now might help, if they convince anyone reading them to look me up on LinkedIn.
This user said that the previous user had given good advice.
This user told me that this was awesome, and that I should add strength training to my regimen. They told me that for jobs it was a numbers game and that it sounded like I was taking the right steps.
This user told me they were sorry I was having a difficult time. They told me I was doing the right thing by reaching out. They told me it was important to find people who understand. They told me they were unemployed for over a year and experienced loneliness.
They gave me this URL:
They suggested that I could go to a local meetup and mentioned that they saw people doing yoga in the park.
They gave me this URL:
https://www.meetup.com/find/ca--on--toronto/
They suggested that I speak to a doctor. They told me that a check up and blood test could give me peace of mind. They suggested that I ask for a referral for free or discounted group therapy, a social worker, or a psychiatrist.
They told me that a psychiatrist could confirm whether or not I have a mental illness. They told me that a diagnosis would not define who I am and could open a door to a new understanding, more support, and a happier life.
They told me that I had every right to keep my life private and create boundaries with my parents. They told me that being handcuffed and taken to a mental hospital could be a traumatic event that I need time to process. They told me that a social worker or therapist could help with this.
This user asked me if I had ever thought of trying background acting as a job. They asked me if I had thought of doing freelancing jobs like catering.
Actually it does seem kinda fun to try random jobs just to see what they are like. I have a bunch of specialized skills related to computers and programming though, so I feel like I need to keep doing that as my main job so that my skills are still current.
This user told me that I could do that and other freelance jobs.
This user asked me what my work background was.
I am a computer engineer. I have worked on a few different things related to computers, and I know a lot about certain kinds of computer chips, like processors. I also know some stuff about AI.
This user told me that if it happens again, that they would not hold me unless I was deemed a danger to myself or others.
They suggested that in order to meet people, I could look up the City of Toronto welcome policy and look at joining some fitness programs. They suggested that I could look into meeting groups that go on hikes.
This user told me that they read my Facebook profile and that they think I need to seek help.
This user told the previous user that they were completely correct.
They suggested that the previous comment should be higher. They said that my family and friends seem rightly concerned.
They said that they hoped I could get some help.
This user said that most people with psychiatric issues do not think they have psychiatric issues.
This user agreed with the previous user. They said that I had posted in the group in the past about blaring political messages with my apartment door open, and not understanding why my neighbours were not receptive. They said that something was not right.
Yeah I agree I did do something originally that caused my neighbors to be upset with me. That is probably related to why the building employees are ignoring my messages when I try to contact them. I would like to resolve the issue so that things can return to normal but it seems difficult without being able to communicate with anyone about the issue.
Yes I am seeking help, that is why I made the post. It seems like it will be difficult to resolve my situation by myself, especially because it seems like I am outnumbered by people saying that I have a mental illness. When I meet new people, it is difficult to convince them that all those people are incorrect. Ideally I would have a social group of people who agree with me that I do not have a mental illness, so that I can socialize with them and have more control over how new people view the situation.
It also would be good to have someone help me communicate with the employees in my building, that is another way I need help.
This user told me that they had read my previous posts and comments. They told me that, as a parent, if their child were behaving the way I had been, then they would also be very concerned and would try anything to get them help, even if they had to be taken in a way that would be scary.
They described that I had not left my home in a year, that I believed someone had hacked into my computer to the point where I was building a replacement computer, that I was concerned about building staff entering my unit and not being able to get along with them, that I had no friends, that I was unable to find employment for a long time while trying to do so. They gave this list as their justification for why they felt I needed help.
They told me that I had said in my post that I was able to regulate myself when I was talking to the doctors. They suggested that this meant that on some level, I knew something was not as it should be. They told me that the world must feel very small and scary right now, and that it was hard to find help, but they strongly encouraged me to try. They told me that a diagnosis may unlock a support and a community for me to be a part of that would embrace me and my quirks, unconventional thoughts, and ideas.
This reply had the highest Facebook like total (16) of any reply in the thread. It also occurred late in the thread. Most of the people who liked this reply would have had to have scrolled through most of the replies before this one and chosen not to like them, before liking this one. This reply was also noteworthy because it was posted by an anonymous member on Facebook, unlike most of the other replies that were linked to a specific Facebook profile. This user also seemed to know me well enough to be able to list things about me that I did not mention in my original post.
In my opinion this suggests that there might be a group of people who have a private chat somewhere else in which they were discussing my Facebook group post. Maybe the people in the private chat know who the user is that posted this reply anonymously, and liked the reply because they agree with what the person said.
This user seems to have correctly predicted that I would later be diagnosed with with a mental illness. I personally do not think that I have a mental illness. From my perspective, this therefore makes the reply seem more suspicious, because this person was able to predict that the person at the psychiatric facility would later make a mistake and diagnose me with an illness even though I do not have any symptoms.
This user agreed with the previous user. They suggested that I could go to the Sunnybrook Emergency Room for a professional evaluation.
This user agreed with the previous user. They told me they read through my post and others, as a caring mother. They told me that it sounded like my parents had miscalculated but that it was hopefully done with my best interests at heart. They told me that it sounded like I was struggling with something bigger than unemployment. They told me that being honest with their psychologist about their thoughts was the best thing they ever did. They told me that 8 years had passed since they had done so and now their life was completely different. They told me I could message them anytime. They used a heart emoji.
This user said they felt like they were reading a description of their late mother's life. They said they would do exactly what my parents were doing and they said they did the same thing themselves. They said they were looked at as the jail keepers but that they were actually scared for the safety of their loved ones.
This user asked if I had ever been evaluated for autism. They said that autistic people can often be misunderstood and that it was not uncommon for them to end up with high social anxiety leading to extreme mistrust. They told me it came from misreading social cues. They told me they were speaking from experience with an autistic friend who went through a similar experience.
No, I have not been evaluated for autism.
I also do not experience high social anxiety in general. I am avoiding leaving my apartment at the moment, but the reason is because I am having a fight with the employees in my building and they are not responding to my messages, and so I no longer trust them for that reason. I think I am being rational.
I would be very happy to socialize with people if it were possible, I am not avoiding social interaction.
I said that I do not experience high social anxiety, however that is only partially true. I used to experience a lot of social anxiety when I was younger. Personally, I think one of the the best ways to deal with social anixety is to become good at explaining yourself. If you know you have good reasons for doing the things you do, and you can explain them if asked, then you always have a response you can use if someone questions something that you have done. I personally find that if I have this kind of mindset then it makes me feel less socially anxious.
This user told me that autistic people do not necessarily avoid social interaction, however they have trouble interpreting intent, which can be a source of anxiety. They told me that autistic people are very rational. They suggested that I can join a group to see if it is something that I would relate to.
This user recommended a website with the title "Adults Living with Level One Autism" and said it was a support group.
This user told the previous user they were glad they brought up autism. They said that they thought the same but did not have medical training and so wanted to avoid giving a diagnosis.
They encouraged me to explore this route. They told me that it would open up possibilities, options and community for me.
This user told the user they were replying to that their reply was very unhelpful.
This user told me they looked at my profile. They told me that I seemed very smart, and that it sounded like I had been through a very difficult time over the last couple of years.
They told me that, as a mother, they encourage me to go to the North York General Emergency Room and ask them about their mental health support. They told me that I would not have to wait for hours in the ER at North York General. They told me that the son of their friend did this and got excellent help and they did not lock him up.
They told me that there was not a single person who does not need mental health support and that certain times we need more help than other times.
They wished me well, and asked me not to leave stuff in front of the doors of my neighbours anymore, as it was against fire regulations.
I noticed that this reply mentioned violating fire regulations. They made this reply after the employees in my building had already called the fire department and claimed that there were fire safety concerns in my apartment. I had not mentioned this anywhere online at the time that this user made their reply. It seems like this would indicate that this user had likely been communicating about me with the building employees or people who know the building employees.
Yes, I understand why people do not want me to leave notes in the hallway. I am not planning to do it again.
Based on some of the responses to this thread, it kind of seems like some of the replies might be from people in my building. I posted a similar post to this one in another Toronto Facebook group, and I did not get nearly as many replies from people insisting that I had a mental illness. So it seems possible to me that others in the building have a group chat or email thread or some other private method of communication that they are using to discuss my situation. I kind of want to convince those people to include me. I have lived here for 10 years as a renter, and I know the building and neighborhood well. If I had some other way of communicating with my neighbors then I definitely would not leave notes.
The other reason I thought the replies might be from people in my building was because the user I was replying to had mentioned fire regulations.
Just so people in the building are aware, my goal right now is to eventually buy a unit in the building. Not having employment income makes that difficult for now, but I am hoping that is temporary.
I would like to be able to get along with the other unit owners. I really do try to be reasonable when people communicate with me. I understand that people do not want to be stuck with an annoying neighbor.
If it makes people feel better I also would point out that the content of my notes shows that I am an empathic person. I am not gonna damage property or steal anything or do anything unethical, at least not on purpose.
This user told me that I could get subsidies or passes for classes at community centres. They told me that there was a community center west of me. They told me that I could swim and walk on the track for free.
This user told me that I should get my thyroid and parathyroid checked, and get a brain scan. They told me that these things could affect my thinking.
This user told the other users not to diagnose or assume they know what is happening to a struggling young person that is in crisis. They said that they empathize with how difficult the situation is. They told the other users that they might suggest solutions that are not only inappropriate, but harmful.
They told me they were sorry that I was experiencing all of this. They told me that they hope I find the help I need.
They told me that they were a mental health professional and that they know how distressing my situation is. They told me that some of the other users have suggested options without knowing me personally, which is not helpful for me. They told me that they heard that my family, the mental health system, and the police have been involved, and they have not been helpful. They told me that they were trying to be helpful, and that they want me to be safe, though being handcuffed and taken to a hospital does not feel very safe for me.
They said that they agreed with the users who said I need mental health support. They told me they have no advice for how to find it.
They said that they could see that the other users were trying to be helpful, but because they did not know me, that they might accidentally suggest something that was not right for me.
This user told the previous user that none of the people posting were professionals. They said that was why most of them had suggested that I go speak to one to find out my options and understand my situation better.
This user pointed out that the user they were replying to claimed that they worked as a mental health professional yet had no idea where I could find help in this situation. They said that seeing a doctor would be a good start.
This user told me that I needed to find like-minded people. They said I was passionate about what is happening to the Palestinian people. They suggested that I join a group that shares my passion. They told me that they strongly suggested that I keep my political views to myself in the workplace and where I reside. They told me that not everyone shares my political views, and so I needed to be mindful. They told me I should have other interests and hobbies and not let this consume my life. They told me that not everything was in my control to change.
I understand the point you are making but the situation is a bit more complicated than that. My parents have filled out a form indicating that they believe I have a mental illness. At the same time, the employees in my building have been avoiding communicating with me while doing suspicious things. I had a package that was delivered to the building and the employees returned it to the courier, telling them that I had moved out, which is not true.
It seems possible that what is happening is that the building employees might be planning to lock me out and pretend I already moved out. I am worried that I was taken to the mental institution as a way to damage my credibility so that people would not believe me if I told people that I had not moved out. This is one reason I am spreading the information online, so that a lot of people know that I live here.