What the hell is it going to take for us to realize that the metal health system as it is, has not worked? There was a shooting in Alger, Washington where six people were killed and two injured. The person was well known by the local police to have mental health problems. This young man’s mother stated he was “desperately mentally ill.” She also said they had been trying to get him help. I know in California, a person has to meet three criteria before they can be held for observation, which is usually the frst step in getting help. 

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  1. Or unable to provide food, clothing, and lodging for themselves.
  2. A danger to others.
  3. Or unable to provide food, clothing, and lodging for themselves.

And that is only for 72 hours. After three days, if they can hold it together while talking to the doctors, they will be released. People who need to be kept longer, aren’t, usually because of the cost of hospitalizations. They are now being sent to Board and Care facilities or set up in Independent Living situations where there is little to no supervision. We can’t make patients take their medications while in the hospital under present laws. So you be sure they don’t take it once released from the hospital. This leaves people who are actively hallucinating and very paranoid walking the streets. Not all are violent. People like the man in Washington are the ones that can take out innocent bystanders in a snap. Explain this to a wife who has lost her husband or a little girl who has lost her father.

This does says something for the days when there were long term state hospitals for patients who needed extended care with medical staff to care for them. Should a person be allowed to refuse medication when they are habitual, serious problems in the comunity? HELL NO!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008 at 10:53 pm and is filed under Medical, Mental Health, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.