Was watching coverage yesterday with a friend who had a child who had very serious mental issues. (He died in his 30's)
She started relating some of the traumatic details of his life that included his change from being a sweet boy who then started incorporating violence into his life. His beautiful, colorful and detailed drawings changed to stick figures killing each other, he was stabbing his mattress with a knife and more. She talked about the many schools she enrolled him into only to have him expelled because he had too many different problems. She talked about the psychiatrists, psychologists and tutors she hired to help. In his late teens he left home and insisted on living in the woods and caves. The people who would be his friends were into drugs who shared with him. She spent those years loooking for him on the streets and hills around LA.
As she watched the coverage, she zeroed in on the fact that mainstreaming him in public schools exposed him to ridicule from other students. She was feeling his pain all over again.
This woman did everything she could to try to save her son but nothing worked. She still thinks of ways she could have done better. She will likely do this for the rest of her life.
I am sure there were many people who have mentally ill children who watched the coverage with similar reactions. Knowing my friend has taught me that coping with serious mental illness is all consuming for the family - and they are pretty much alone.
We just have to do better. Hasn't there been research that shows better ways for supporting the ill person? Wouldn't it really be more humane to support them in group homes or in something more restricted for severely ill people so they can avoid the danger and exploitation of living on the streets and like you say - ending up in prison?
= new reply since forum marked as read