What are you supposed to do when you encounter a mentally ill homeless person who seems to need help?

[Anonymous]

This was not in DC but in a rural area in the south that looked to be a smallish town. I went with a friend to visit her daughter in college and to get back to civilization you need to pass through a few towns to get back onto the highway. We encountered a woman wearing only a blanket (it was 40 degrees out), fully covered in mud, hair entirely knotted and screaming about demons. As it was Sunday in this podunk town the local police dept wouldn’t answer. We then tried the fire department who did answer but told us to call 911 and that they wouldn’t do anything for her. We then called 911 but I’m not sure if we did the right thing. She needed to be cleaned up, given clothing and probably medicated and monitored. Ideally she should be brought to the hospital. With that said what do these small towns do with these people? I got to thinking and I imagine she must be known around this small town and other people passed her by and had to see her state yet seemed to do nothing. I’ve never seen someone in such a bad state before. She looked like someone threw her into a mud pit.

[Anonymous]

According to disability rights advocates she’s making a lifestyle choice. As long as she’s not suicidal or homicidal she can’t be committed in most states. Most folks like this are kept in American jails. 10 times as many people with serious mental illness are in jails rather than hospitals today.

Realistically she’d be under court ordered treatment for whatever it is. It’s a huge human tragedy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:According to disability rights advocates she’s making a lifestyle choice. As long as she’s not suicidal or homicidal she can’t be committed in most states. Most folks like this are kept in American jails. 10 times as many people with serious mental illness are in jails rather than hospitals today.

Realistically she’d be under court ordered treatment for whatever it is. It’s a huge human tragedy.

I’m not sure how they argued someone not of sound mind is making a lifestyle choice. Awful to hear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As it was Sunday in this podunk town the local police dept wouldn’t answer.

Sure. That’s not how police departments work. People here are so weird. Why make something like this up?

[Anonymous]

Or people do what britanny spears' dad did. If there's no one who is authorized to look after this woman, "let her be" is the good ole US of A's way

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As it was Sunday in this podunk town the local police dept wouldn’t answer.

Sure. That’s not how police departments work. People here are so weird. Why make something like this up?

Of course it is. You can get in contact with a police department any day of the week in a large city. A small one will be closed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:According to disability rights advocates she’s making a lifestyle choice. As long as she’s not suicidal or homicidal she can’t be committed in most states. Most folks like this are kept in American jails. 10 times as many people with serious mental illness are in jails rather than hospitals today.

Realistically she’d be under court ordered treatment for whatever it is. It’s a huge human tragedy.

I’m not sure how they argued someone not of sound mind is making a lifestyle choice. Awful to hear.

It really doesn't logically make sense but disability rights advocates I suppose fear that involuntary commitment will be worse. They reason some (or most) insane asylums were places where a lot of abuses happened so no one should be forced to take medication or be committed against their will. It is awful to see women in this condition who are so out of it they are probably being repeatedly sexually assaulted on the streets.

So the only thing the disability advocates lobby for is free housing no strings attached and voluntary out patient care. But if you are too mentally ill to realize you need care then how are you supposed to go seek care?

So the answer is you do nothing because nothing ends up being done if anyone actually responds.

[Anonymous]

Stop being a judgemental jerk. "Back to civilization" 🙄

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As it was Sunday in this podunk town the local police dept wouldn’t answer.

Sure. That’s not how police departments work. People here are so weird. Why make something like this up?

Of course it is. You can get in contact with a police department any day of the week in a large city. A small one will be closed.

Police departments are 24/7

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stop being a judgemental jerk. "Back to civilization" 🙄

Why not be judgmental? It’s a crappy small town and the fact that they allow a woman to go unclothed, dirty and screaming especially during the holidays says a lot about them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:According to disability rights advocates she’s making a lifestyle choice. As long as she’s not suicidal or homicidal she can’t be committed in most states. Most folks like this are kept in American jails. 10 times as many people with serious mental illness are in jails rather than hospitals today.

Realistically she’d be under court ordered treatment for whatever it is. It’s a huge human tragedy.

I’m not sure how they argued someone not of sound mind is making a lifestyle choice. Awful to hear.

It really doesn't logically make sense but disability rights advocates I suppose fear that involuntary commitment will be worse. They reason some (or most) insane asylums were places where a lot of abuses happened so no one should be forced to take medication or be committed against their will. It is awful to see women in this condition who are so out of it they are probably being repeatedly sexually assaulted on the streets.

So the only thing the disability advocates lobby for is free housing no strings attached and voluntary out patient care. But if you are too mentally ill to realize you need care then how are you supposed to go seek care?

So the answer is you do nothing because nothing ends up being done if anyone actually responds.

The answer here would be to improve mental health facilities and have strict regulations for them. Not allow people to rot on the streets because they’re too mentally ill to access any help.

[Anonymous]

You help them as much as you can without compromising your own safety and sanity. And realize that whatever you do will not be enough to turn around their life, and you very possibly cry and then move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stop being a judgemental jerk. "Back to civilization" 🙄

Why not be judgmental? It’s a crappy small town and the fact that they allow a woman to go unclothed, dirty and screaming especially during the holidays says a lot about them.

Have you walked around SF, DC, NY, etc.

I guess by your definition they are crappy big cities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As it was Sunday in this podunk town the local police dept wouldn’t answer.

Sure. That’s not how police departments work. People here are so weird. Why make something like this up?

Of course it is. You can get in contact with a police department any day of the week in a large city. A small one will be closed.

Police departments are 24/7

911 is 24/7 but small police departments often close on weekends and after 5pm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stop being a judgemental jerk. "Back to civilization" 🙄

Why not be judgmental? It’s a crappy small town and the fact that they allow a woman to go unclothed, dirty and screaming especially during the holidays says a lot about them.

That young woman you visited must be so glad you left. Please don't ever visit again. I'm sure you made it a terrible time for her.