I have been working with one particular homeless man for a long time. One night, he was having a serious psychotic break. So I called 9-1-1.
Instead of an ambulance, they sent the police. And then the police blew him off because they knew him and that he was homeless.
The nature of this guy's schizophrenia is such that he believes cars in traffic are out to kill him. He also hallucinates people with axes chasing him. This guy literally runs out into traffic and points his finger at oncoming vehicles.
None of this is drug induced. His brain snapped when he was brutally raped by his wrestling coach as a teenager.
I warned the police that he was going to hurt someone if he didn't get the institutionalization he clearly needs. They ignored me.
Well, a few weeks ago, he attacked a teenaged boy and hurt him pretty badly. Now the entire community is out for his blood.
He turned himself in to the police, and he was let go a day later! He's back on the street, as sick as ever.
It's just a matter of time before the cops shoot him in the street like a dog.
Words cannot express the frustration I feel about the mental health care desert.