Their names go down in history as a result of their desperate and many times, heinous acts of violence.  South Carolina mother Susan Smith drowns her two sons in 1994; shooting sprees in 1998 and 1999 involving troubled loner Russell Weston, Jr. opening fire in the U.S. Capitol, killing two police officers, while Larry Ashbrook guns down seven people in a Fort Worth church.  In Houston, Andrea Yates drowns her five children in 2002 and in September of 2003, Martha Burks is charged with intent to commit murder when she stabs her daughter, soon followed by Demetria Evans' strangulation of her 9-year old daughter.  The common-thread running through all of these incidents?  Depression and mental illness.  And a breakdown of "the system."

 

I covered the Larry Ashbrook story and a recurring fear amongst his neighbors?  Reprisal.  "What happens if I "turn him in" and the cops pick him up and put him away in a psych ward for a few days?  Do you realize what I'm going to have to deal with once he gets out?" was the message of fear shared by his neighbors.  And therein lies one of the biggest challenges of the system as it sits today: In Texas--as in many other states--anyone can "swear out" an affidavit with the local police and have what's known as a mental health warrant issued, allowing the authorities to pick up the mentally ill party.  This will usually get that person "off the street" and into the hands of mental health professionals for evaluation for 72-hours minimum...(and possibly longer). 

 

But what happens when the docs stabilize the person with medication?  They "get well" and are released, and that's when the real problems can start, especially when the at risk person fails to take their medications (extremely common) and they fall back into the same threatening state that got them picked up in the first place.  Only now they might be agitated and revenge-driven...and those people that tried to help are (potentially) at an even greater risk...especially since the person that's been involuntarily held for psychiatric evaluation has a right to know who was behind the mental health warrant in the first place.  (Oops.)

 

This is a classic example of raising hell and being the squeaky wheel and making your voice and fears heard to the authorities...and the powers-that-be in the health care facility where the at risk person is being treated.  Modifying the tactics outlined in my Six Steps To Effective Complaining section (utilizing a barrage of faxes and phone calls is a time-sensitive substitute for the Certified Mail technique outlined).

 

Some staggering statistics for Houston: According to the University of Texas/Harris County Psychiatric Center, mental Illness is more common than heart and lung disease, yet many refuse to seek treatment because of the stigma associated with mental disorders or they are uninformed about how or where to go for help. One in five people, or 350,000 adults and 130,000 children residing in Harris County (Texas), will suffer from a diagnosable mental illness during their lifetime.

 

Mental Illness...the Warning Signs:  Some signs of possible mental illness, if persistent or severe, for which professional help should be considered are:

What to do in an emergency: During psychiatric emergencies, the following options are available:

If the person voluntarily seeks treatment...he or she may call or go to the NeuroPsychiatric Center (MHMRA), located at 1502 Taub Loop, telephone 713-970-7070, or Ben Taub General Hospital (HCHD), located at 1504 Taub Loop, telephone 713-793-2000. Both of these facilities are in the Texas Medical Center.

If the individual is in immediate danger or is endangering others, call 911 or your local police department. When calling the Houston Police Department, request a crisis intervention team, or CIT, so officers trained to recognize and communicate with the mentally ill can be sent to help. The police will assess the situation and may, but are not required to, bring the person to a hospital for psychiatric intervention. If the law enforcement officer elects to transport the person to a hospital, the police will file a request for an Emergency Detention Order so that the person may be kept involuntarily in the hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.

If there is a medical complication...an individual may go to the Ben Taub General Hospital Emergency Center, 1504 Taub Loop, in the Texas Medical Center. Emergency room physicians will treat medical injuries resulting from a suicide attempt or trauma, and acute medical conditions resulting from a drug and/or alcohol overdose or other co-occurring medical illnesses. For treatment of psychiatric problems, the social worker will make referrals to a mental health facility.

Treatment is also available at the emergency center of any hospital that has a psychiatric unit. Those with insurance should contact their insurance company to determine which hospitals are designated on their care plan.

If the person is a veteran who is eligible for VA healthcare benefits...treatment is available at the Houston Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 2002 Holcombe Boulevard.

Follow these guidelines to determine which hospitals accept Medicare, Medicaid or Medicaid-HMO:

• If the hospital is a full-service medical hospital with a psychiatric unit, Medicaid, Medicaid- HMO or Medicare may be accepted.
• If the hospital only provides psychiatric services, Medicaid-HMO may be accepted for adults. Medicaid and Medicaid-HMO may be accepted for children.

It is suggested that you contact the hospital of your choice to determine which method(s) of payment they accept. It is recommended that families determine which hospitals cover treatment costs under the insurance plan of their ill relative in order to make the selection of a hospital prior to a crisis.

No hospital can refuse admission/treatment of someone that's in a crisis situation and a threat to themselves or others: Because it's an emergency scenario, insurance (or lack thereof) should never be an issue or a condition of admittance.  But be aware that if the patient doesn't have any sort of insurance coverage, the hospital's going to be much more aggressive about discharging them quickly.  The GOMER Syndrome [Get Outta My Emergency Room] syndrome is extremely common...and presents an ongoing threat to society.

No insurance?  Here's how to get treatment at the Harris County Psychiatric Center:  There are two direct ways to access public psychiatric hospitalization at the Harris County Psychiatric Center (HCPC). They are:

    1.  Through elective (voluntary) treatment arranged by the Mental Health and Mental Retardation Authority (MHMRA) where a psychiatrist determines if hospitalization is needed; or

    2.  Through court-ordered (involuntary) mental health services in which an application is filed with the Mental Health Division of the Harris County Clerk's Office (see court-ordered admission section).

 

Voluntary or Elective Treatment...MHMRA: After a psychiatric evaluation, MHMRA determines who has priority for inpatient or outpatient treatment. When there is a huge demand for public psychiatric services, clinic appointments for ongoing services may not be readily available. However, crisis services can be accessed through the NeuroPsychiatric Center.

 

Adult Services: Persons seeking psychiatric treatment may request an appointment at MHMRA by calling 713-970-7070. Based on symptom descriptions, an appointment may be scheduled with a clinical evaluation specialist to determine eligibility for services. If eligible, an appointment is scheduled with an MHMRA psychiatrist for further evaluation and treatment.

Persons eligible for Harris County Hospital District services may ask their primary physician in the community health clinic to make a referral to the Ben Taub General Hospital for psychiatric outpatient services.

Anyone in a psychiatric crisis may go to the NeuroPsychiatric Center at 1502 Taub Loop, 713-970-7070 or Ben Taub General Hospital at 1504 Taub Loop, 713-793-2000.

Chemical Dependency Services:  MHMRA does not provide services for people with a single diagnosis of chemical dependency. Contact MHMRA's Access Center at 713-970-7070 to obtain referrals to the appropriate treatment facility; or, check the telephone numbers at the end of this pamphlet for referral to agencies providing treatment for substance and alcohol dependency.

 

Child and Adolescent Services: Persons seeking psychiatric treatment for children and adolescents may request an appointment at MHMRA by calling 713-970-7070. Based on symptom descriptions, an appointment may be scheduled with a clinical evaluation specialist to determine eligibility for services. If eligible, an appointment is scheduled with an MHMRA psychiatrist for further evaluation and treatment.