only thing that made any sense was that there was a real mental event for this young man, he needed to be in a hospital for treatment...the day before. Due to the lack of psychiatric beds in the state, his release was likely accompanied by prescriptions for anti-psychotic meds, especially if he was felt to be a danger to anyone.
I then read about his ability as a musician and academic ability, so he was highly intelligent and emotionally caring and sensitive..His Facebook quote proved that. Yet sadly, that is a combination/brain system that often does not do well with anti-psychotics. (They say that ADHD or Autism is a different structuring of the brain...like Channel A and Channel B...usually high intelligence)
Family tumult, seen as betrayals for a young person...such as divorce and remarriages, new partners and the resulting communication challenges, sometimes create a severe emotional untethering that the family is hesitant, if not, demanding not be discussed. Usually because of conflicting and confusing events and results, and certainly not absent guilt and regret.
Depending on the danger of the situation, a cocktail of them may be prescribed to basically numb the system/render it unable to hurt anyone physically. Often, however, it actually creates or enables a violent ... to themselves or other ... psychotic break. The exceptionally long list of possible side effects is mind-boggling, and all involved just hope against hope that it's the other list...the one that lists the benefits...that is the result. There is an unimaginable horror in making those decisions...and not knowing because it is someone else's brain...so we hope and pray.
There is not an ounce of judgment for any of the above issues...just sorrow for this family and that it happens way more often than most people know. Often prison becomes the final destination if death does not intervene.
I have a son Gus Deeds age. His father and I understand the grief and heartache and every word written above. Our son is doing as well as possible, yet what might have been an amazing and talented life, is doing well to live day to day on his own. I can imagine what the family is going through to some extent.
I have deep and abiding blame for Ronald Reagan. He began the assault on the mental health community and abrogated our political, thus financial responsibility as a civilized society. That responsibility is to serve and help heal, and move forward with research and development and facilities...to make progress, as we have in the physical health profession.
He lowered the bar, yea pretty much removed it, which pretty much ended the progress of research and treatment, thus choices of individuals, families and the professionals who strive to help. Of course, the pharmaceuticals have done well, during this time and will, again, escape any scrutiny...but I can't even fault them because it's all we have.
I have written this post hoping that it might help at least one person or family. Please avoid assigning blame or judgments or anything but support, because sometimes that's part of the problem. There are no good guys/girls or bad guys/girls. Just a broken system that I pray will at least get some attention as a result of the upcoming elections.
How about trading just one new prison for a mental health facility. It's a political issue. And because it's a human issue, as usual, it falls pretty much to the Democrats.
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