Tell someone you are dating they should take medications or enter into counseling if they really need it?
Is it better to walk away? If so, why?

wait until things are calm and suggest that they see a doctor or you could just get some meds and start slipping in their food

calm conversation. Just telling what are the advantages of counselling and how people really can get benefit from it. May be quoting some examples, if any. Walking away or not is totally based on the kind of problem one is facing.

why might you want to walk away? Do you really care for them?

What if the person is a mental health professional themselves?

Does that change anything in an approach?

perhaps they could write their own prescription

psychosis does not discriminate. Do you want to help

Just walk away, if you're talking about who I think you are. The why is that they will be offended if you say anything.

I have encountered these situations before, in family, in friends, and in potential mates.

The issue is the ones who are sick do not see they are sick, because well, their brain is sick. This is a difficult balance and one wrong thing said can end things.

Actually, no..... these things just seem to come out in clumps though, right?

not be able to speak freely with someone is difficult

I donot think it changes the approach. We should always start with calm conversation. I presume there would be a tendency of denial but it can be managed with continous compassionate dialogue.

I can tell you my mom was. She didn't talk to me for a long while afterwards....but now she is grateful. But family and friends are two different things.

Wow - that is a tough one. If you really cared about the person, I am sure it would be tough to just walk away. Although on the other hand, it may be pretty difficult for that individual to take advice from someone else especially since that is their profession also. I would try to mention it to the person by citing some examples and, obviously, in a very private way. It could go either way, maybe being in that field, they will realize that you have a point, or they would get offended at the sheer audacity of someone telling them they have a problem. Very tough one Lilith.

I think it all depends on the level of careing on your part !If it's a deep commitment then gentle coersion would be the best approach .Be prepared for rejections but be firm .Another in that profession brings with it another set of difficulties as they will know all the conventional ploys .Maybe try reverse Phscology and make it a third party Kind of thing ?

The first step is just some how make the person realise that they are wrong and many think that way. It should be carried out with utmost care depending on the person's general nature.

i could see this going down hill real fast,

approach them with sincere concern for their well being and show as much love and compassion as you can

If it's that medication whose impact can last longer than four hours...and they should call their doctor...tell him to take his meds.

Wrong!!!!!!!!! Offer them a drink & out that medication in it, repeat this process & in time they will be a better person, then you tell them