I don't post about my severely mentally ill son on here very often but this is a very discouraging situation and a very common one, way too common. Lucas is eighteen, has been living in a group home in Topeka for the last 10 months, and has a compound mentally illness that is kind of a hybrid of Autism and Schizophrenia. His Autism traits give him a very endearing personality but his Schizophrenia has really advanced in the last year. He has eloped often and has put himself in a great deal of danger and wears a GPS bracelet now. Lately he has been jailed three times and the most recent incident was 11 days ago and he is still in the Shawnee County Jail. No non-state hospital will accept him as a patient because of his physical aggression, Osawatomie State Hospital won't accept him because his Autistic features put him at risk from other aggressive patients, Parsons State Hospital is the more appropriate placement but there is a long wait to get in there. That leaves jail as the only alternative. I don't see this as being the fault of any one politician or any one party. It is just kind of a perfect storm. The discouraging part is how people drag their feet, don't respond, then go home for the weekend while leaving him in a grotesquely unjust incarnation. We are heavily engaged with TARC in Topeka and they are an absolutely wonderful agency. All I am really trying to say is that it is despicable that people in key roles who could do something about this are so complacent. I am pushing all of the buttons I can to move things forward and so are many others on Lucas's rather large and dedicated treatment team. I don't think that this is a situation where we need an attorney. Lucas has a court appointed attorney and he has a very strong and influential advocate with TARC. If any of you know anyone with the State Legislature please encourage them to take a hard look at improving accommodations and treatment options for the severely mentally ill.
Thanks!
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Thanks!
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