Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sad situation-young neighbor (late 20s)--went to college, moved home, never launched and is now suffering from schizophrenia. Spends the days outside, screaming, talking, howling , etc. Lives with elderly parents. My understanding is he is unmedicated.
I see it but don't hear the behavior because I'm a few houses away. next door neighbors are concerned-they have young kids who are outside daily. This is a Bethesda-like neighborhood.

Anything we can do? Should we be concerned? Anyone have experience with something similar.
Thank you!

Are you in Fairfax County or Falls Church City?
If so you can call their crisis line, describe what is going on and they will be able to answer all your questions, including at what point this would merit a wellness check for this young man and/or elderly parents.

To add, whatever County you are in their is the Community Mental health Center and a crisis line, please do not hesitate to reach out to them with any questions.

Post about it on Facebook & Nextdoor

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would call the police.

And say what? A man is talking to himself in his own yard?

Sad situation-young neighbor (late 20s)--went to college, moved home, never launched and is now suffering from schizophrenia. Spends the days outside, screaming, talking, howling , etc. Lives with elderly parents. My understanding is he is unmedicated.
I see it but don't hear the behavior because I'm a few houses away. next door neighbors are concerned-they have young kids who are outside daily. This is a Bethesda-like neighborhood.

Anything we can do? Should we be concerned? Anyone have experience with something similar.
Thank you!

About all they can do is move away if they are concerned. It is legal to be an unmedicated schizophrenic.

Unfortunately.

OP, there is nothing the next door neighbors can do other than be kind and offer support to the parents.

It is legal for the schizophrenic son to refuse meds. Many of the meds have very, very strong side effects that are much worse than the hallucination symptoms to the schizophrenic.

If the neighbors don't like someone talking to himself in the yard they can move away.

In my state the schizophrenic can be hospitalized for 72 hours involuntarily ONLY IF THEY ARE A DANGER TO THEMSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE. Your description does not
meet those standards. Even if the schizophrenic gets meds
when under 72 hour hold they are free to stop the meds
upon release.

It is totally legal to be an untreated schizophrenic in America.

My uncle and brother both had schizophrenia. Both
preferred to be untreated and both had lawyers on call.

If there is an active concern, call the crisis center - https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/HHS-Program/Program.aspx?id=BHCS/BHCS24hrcrisiscenter-p204.html

24 Hour Crisis Center

The Crisis Center provides free crisis services 24 hours a day/ 365 days a year. Services are provided by telephone (240-777-4000) or in person at 1301 Piccard Drive in Rockville (no appointment needed). Mobile Crisis Team (MCT) provides emergency crisis evaluations for individuals who are experiencing a mental health crisis. Full crisis assessments and treatment referrals are provided for all crises, both psychiatric and situational. In addition, the program has four crisis beds as an alternative to hospitalization for those who are uninsured or are insured within the public mental health system.

Service(s): In Person Crisis Intervention
Crisis Intervention Hotlines/Helplines
Target Population:
Information Number: 240-777-4000

Location(s):
MidCounty DHHS Building
1301 Piccard Drive, Rockville, MD 20850

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure why a Bethesda like neighborhood matters.

Be kind to him and his parents. See what you can do to help out.

Because you’d think in a neighborhood like that, the “elderly parents” would be more conscientious of this sort of thing & would have hired a caretaker. I know you can’t afford to live in such a neighborhood, but this is one of many reasons why people pay top dollar to. To have peace & quiet.

You win biggest DCUM a**hole of the week. Congrats.

Anonymous wrote:Sad situation-young neighbor (late 20s)--went to college, moved home, never launched and is now suffering from schizophrenia. Spends the days outside, screaming, talking, howling , etc. Lives with elderly parents. My understanding is he is unmedicated.
I see it but don't hear the behavior because I'm a few houses away. next door neighbors are concerned-they have young kids who are outside daily. This is a Bethesda-like neighborhood.

Anything we can do? Should we be concerned? Anyone have experience with something similar.
Thank you!

Are you in Fairfax County or Falls Church City?
If so you can call their crisis line, describe what is going on and they will be able to answer all your questions, including at what point this would merit a wellness check for this young man and/or elderly parents.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure why a Bethesda like neighborhood matters.

Be kind to him and his parents. See what you can do to help out.

Because you’d think in a neighborhood like that, the “elderly parents” would be more conscientious of this sort of thing & would have hired a caretaker. I know you can’t afford to live in such a neighborhood, but this is one of many reasons why people pay top dollar to. To have peace & quiet.

Its clear you have no experience with mental illness. What exactly do you think a "caretaker" would do to prevent this?

I meant a live-in caretaker. And, the mentally ill individual stay inside.

Lock em in the basement

Up until this year my son was a typical college student. He moved home after his second year, and I fear he will never launch. This could happen to any of your children, it certainly came out of the blue for us (no trauma or family history).

We (he, my spouse and I, plus his psychiatrist) are doing everything we can to find the right balance of medications and therapy. It's such a difficult road, you cannot even imagine. The vast majority of those diagnosed with a severe mental illness are no harm to you, your family or your neighborhood.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure why a Bethesda like neighborhood matters.

Be kind to him and his parents. See what you can do to help out.

Because you’d think in a neighborhood like that, the “elderly parents” would be more conscientious of this sort of thing & would have hired a caretaker. I know you can’t afford to live in such a neighborhood, but this is one of many reasons why people pay top dollar to. To have peace & quiet.

Its clear you have no experience with mental illness. What exactly do you think a "caretaker" would do to prevent this?

I meant a live-in caretaker. And, the mentally ill individual stay inside.

It is legal to be outside and have mental illness that is untreated.

That is awful. I'm so sorry, OP. You are right to be concerned. As sad as it may be, it is a huge hazard to the neighborhood and cause for concern for your children.

There is an individual in our neighborhood who is very similar (lives a few streets down from me) but there are endless complaints on the neighborhood page. He is disruptive, delusional, and - quite frankly - a clear threat to the neighborhood security. He is outside screaming at the top of his lungs about random conspiracy theories (among other nonsensical babble) at all hours of the day and night.

Police have been called many times but haven't done much. He has been arrested a few times for being disruptive and for making threats against the government.

As much as PPs like to clutch their pearls and say "oh, you should be concerned for his mental welfare", it is just not reasonable. The safety and welfare of your family come first.

TBH, if it were my neighbor, I would move. Police have done nothing in our area. Family first.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would call the police.

And say what? A man is talking to himself in his own yard?

Sad situation-young neighbor (late 20s)--went to college, moved home, never launched and is now suffering from schizophrenia. Spends the days outside, screaming, talking, howling , etc. Lives with elderly parents. My understanding is he is unmedicated.
I see it but don't hear the behavior because I'm a few houses away. next door neighbors are concerned-they have young kids who are outside daily. This is a Bethesda-like neighborhood.

Anything we can do? Should we be concerned? Anyone have experience with something similar.
Thank you!

About all they can do is move away if they are concerned. It is legal to be an unmedicated schizophrenic.

For him? Nothing.

For yourself and your family make sure you have cameras all around your house and make sure your doors are locked and do not become the target of any negative attention or association. Don’t make yourself or your family a target. Keep safe Btdt. It was frightening and the police can’t do anything to help them since they’re not doing anything illegal and won’t do anything to help you unless you are physically harmed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would call the police.

And say what? A man is talking to himself in his own yard?

Sad situation-young neighbor (late 20s)--went to college, moved home, never launched and is now suffering from schizophrenia. Spends the days outside, screaming, talking, howling , etc. Lives with elderly parents. My understanding is he is unmedicated.
I see it but don't hear the behavior because I'm a few houses away. next door neighbors are concerned-they have young kids who are outside daily. This is a Bethesda-like neighborhood.

Anything we can do? Should we be concerned? Anyone have experience with something similar.
Thank you!

There are people across the street from my house screaming, talking and howling, also crying and throwing tantrums, every single day. Should I call the police to the preschool?

At what time of day? In the middle of the night?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure why a Bethesda like neighborhood matters.

Be kind to him and his parents. See what you can do to help out.

Because you’d think in a neighborhood like that, the “elderly parents” would be more conscientious of this sort of thing & would have hired a caretaker. I know you can’t afford to live in such a neighborhood, but this is one of many reasons why people pay top dollar to. To have peace & quiet.

Its clear you have no experience with mental illness. What exactly do you think a "caretaker" would do to prevent this?

I meant a live-in caretaker. And, the mentally ill individual stay inside.