My son began showing symptoms at the end of his senior year of college. He seemed depressed & overwhelmed. He moved back in with me. He was fearful & paranoid. He requested hospital care one night, but they kept him for less than 24 hours. He slightly improved to getting a job. But still had anger issues and weird thoughts.
Then he moved out & began being very erratic. Ran off to a town hours away. Saying he was marrying a girl from college. Then flew to Florida. An Uber driver knew he was not well and called. He then stayed in Miami for 3 days. We flew him home on condition that he go to the hospital. But he wouldn’t go back once. He stayed in the apartment alone for the next 2 years.
Then I had him court-ordered to the hospital; they again released him 2 days later.
My sister agreed to let him leave with her. That went for 2 years, then he was with me again. Wouldn’t work or get help. Again, I had him court-ordered to the hospital, who kept him for only 6 hours. He then lived with various friends and relatives for a year. Won’t work. Says we all work together to change his life. He is on the verge of being homeless. And/or suicidal. The only thing he asks is for someone to let him live with and stay in bed most of the time. He can be very rude & disrespectful, so it’s difficult for most to tolerate long-term.
Each story is shared by someone impacted by untreated SMI,
lightly edited for clarity, never for meaning.
Do you have an ask? If you were sitting down with your legislator, how would you ask them to help you?
Mental health is the same as physical health and impacts many more than just the individual. We need to be able to advocate for others' wellness and safety. It makes our communities compassionate and safer.
