Home : Celebrity Justice, Britney Spears : Britney Will Get Help -- Like It or Not

Britney Will Get Help -- Like It or Not

Posted Jan 9th 2008 6:30PM by TMZ Staff

TMZ has learned family members and professionals in Britney's life are working as a team to get her mental help -- either voluntarily or involuntarily -- for treatment of what appears to be a severe bipolar disorder.

We're told it's going to happen one way or the other, and fast. So far, Britney refuses to commit herself voluntarily, but the team is persisting.

Sources say they are considering "a number of options," some of which are "creative."

The most extreme option -- going to court and getting an order forcing Britney into in-patient treatment. That would be the last ditch effort.

If involuntary commitment is the only option, Brit must be picked up by cops -- again -- on a "5150," meaning she's a danger to herself or others. Then, while she's in the hospital, health care professionals can go to the County Public Guardian, who can then go to court and ask for what's called a "conservatorship." The conservator would then basically assume control of Brit's life.

If the judge grants the conservatorship, Brit could be involuntarily committed to a mental hospital. Again, that's not the only option and various alternatives are being discussed right now.

Stay tuned ...

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91. congratulations TMZ, youve been stalking a woman who is mentally ill. nice work

Posted at 7:40PM on Jan 9th 2008 by hottie

92. 1 MINUTE BRIT IS SCREAMING AT THE PAPS, THEN NEXT SHE IS SLEEPING WITH THEM!!! DID ANYONE SAY "ATTENTION" !!!

Posted at 7:39PM on Jan 9th 2008 by TK55

93. Look, a falling star! Quick, make a wish!

I wish she would get forced into help since her narcissism blinds her from common reality. Then we wouldn't have every other story dealing with her and inflating her ever expanding ego! And unfortunately, there is a good chance that if she is bipolar, it was genetically passed to one or both of her kids. Even if this isn't the case, they'll probably have a privileged, but rough life ahead. All of my sympathy goes to them, as my sympathy for Twit long ago vanished.

Posted at 7:40PM on Jan 9th 2008 by No 2 ways about it, she's screwed!

94. Told ya so.She's gone.
Suzyq

Posted at 7:44PM on Jan 9th 2008 by suzyq

95. Hell, TMZ might have stalk her into mental illness. Could you imagine following Harvey's wife everyday for the next year 24/7, how do you think she'd act?

Posted at 7:44PM on Jan 9th 2008 by Lenn K.

96. i never felt i would feel sorry for paris hil. or martha st.

Posted at 9:51PM on Jan 10th 2008 by chefjeff

97. The reason they didn't do this sooner is very simple. It is very difficult (and rightly so) to obtain a "hold and treat." The individual needs to have more going on than a real need to get help. One must be a danger to oneself or others as evidenced by threats of suicide or physical harm to oneself or others, such as saying "I'm going to hurt so and so." It also must be a credible danger. Someone who comes into work and says "I'm gonna kill that stupid boss of ours" is not making a credible threat, nor is someone who says "What a day, I should just shoot myself!" The individual can also get an attorney as soon as a "hold and treat" is issued and judges generally give the benefit of the doubt to someone who says they are NOT a danger to themselves or others unless there is some pretty clear evidence. While this keeps some people who really need it from getting help, it also keeps, say, my Mother-In-Law from committing ME.

Posted at 7:46PM on Jan 9th 2008 by Fr. John

98. I f she isn't crazy when she goes in,once they start forcing those drugs on her she will be well on her way.
Liberalism is a denial of reality. Britney is finding that sometimes reality catches up with you.
I think Federaline is trash. If he hadn't tried to extort more money from Britney, then this might never have happened. She should be thankful that she is rid of him. Hollywood is full of insincere people who will take advantage of you and try to get your money.

Britney should leave the country for a while to get away from the persons who want to harm her. People will do almost anything for that much money including putting her away.

Posted at 8:29PM on Jan 9th 2008 by anonymous

99. SO!! DOES ANYONE KNOW IF THAT "CHRIS GUY " IS STILL SCREAMING ON HIS WEBSITE "LEAVE BRTNEY ALONE" !!??

Posted at 7:46PM on Jan 9th 2008 by TK55

100. I really do not believe that Britney Spears is Bi Polar at all. I believe that she is lonely and depressed over the breakup of her marriage and then, losing her sons. I feel that the story reported that she was furious because she wanted more time with her sons after her visitation was cut into by the deposition is why she was angry. She tried to ask K-FED for an extended visitation and of course, he said no. K-FED called his gunnies in knowing full well that the paparazzi camps out at her doorstep and the gunnies contacted the police to get this all on the TV and so that K-FED could eventually get the kids and more of BRITNEY's MONEY because he DOES NOT want to work. Everyone knows that he is nothing but a golddigger! This all started right before K-FED's money/support was to run out. The Paparazzi should go stake out K-FED, follow him around to see who is leaves the kids with or how he takes care of them and so on. This is so pathetic. Britney is REBELLING! Nothing more. She is angry and needs to just stay out of the view of paparazzi as much as she can or go on a vacation until her next court appearance for some real rest and relaxation. She also needs to ditch the paparazzi man because he is only a leech as well and is looking to make money!!!!

Posted at 8:47PM on Jan 9th 2008 by peggy

101. If a previous poster was right in that she must be arrested again as well as get 5150'd before the familay can step in and commit her;

It's too late. They missed their chance last week.

She faked the whole thing and ended up walking and partying.

You have to think she's aware of this by now and won't try to pull off the same kind of thing again.

All this will most likely "put her on the run". She'll probably think it's fun.

Posted at 7:47PM on Jan 9th 2008 by RWB

102. Why in the hell wasn't this sone in the first place...........these people are stupid idiots....and who are the "team of professionals"????? I'm so sick of the idiocracy of this whole scenario....

Posted at 7:47PM on Jan 9th 2008 by have to say

103. And the soap opera goes on and on..... I think nothing will of the extreme will happen, Please.... this is a Hollyweird celebrattty we are talking about. Lawyers will go on and on and her family thinks they know better than anyone else. After a while, we will get tired of all of this and put her story on the backburner and move on to another young Hollywood hopeful for their 15 min.

Posted at 7:50PM on Jan 9th 2008 by mary

104. she won't get better if her family has her committed. she will fight it all the way and she won't pay attention to anything they try to teach her in treatment. SHE has to want help. SHE has to hit rock bottom before she will be willing to ask for help. treatment is for those who want it,not those who need it!

Posted at 7:50PM on Jan 9th 2008 by Susan

105. I AM SO SICK OF THIS BRITNEY SAGA THE WOMAN GETS AWAY WITH EVERYTHING. MISSES COURT APPEARANCES, HITS A CAR NO CONSEQUENCE, COMES LATE TO A DEPOSITION, LEAVES A CAR IN THE MDDLE OF THE STREET, HOLDS KIDS IN HOUSE, GOES TO HOSPITAL AND LEAVES. ANY OTHER ORDINARY CITIZEN WOULD BE UNDER THE JAIL

Posted at 9:14PM on Jan 9th 2008 by L. Hamln

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