Injustice of Jessica Fernandez, how the system failed her!

    

      On May 22nd of this year, Nancy Fernandez received a text message from her daughter Jessica, saying that she would not have to worry about her anymore. Because she previously attempted to end her life, Nancy immediately called the Erie County Sheriff’s department. Shortly thereafter, she and her husband David heard sirens, and they were aware that there was a strong possibility that it was the result of that call. Though they feared the worst, nothing could prepare them for what ultimately occurred.     

      The bedroom has not changed in the ensuing months since that day last May. Medals, awards and pictures adorn the walls and as if it awaits a young woman who is about to return from summer camp or a trip abroad. Tragically, that is not the case, because the sirens her parents heard were indeed for their daughter. It was then that they were informed that their daughter Jessica, a 16 year old young lady, ended her struggle with bipolar disorder by standing in front of a moving train in Vermillion. Besides two loving parents, she left behind many other family members, and friends who still miss her terribly. She also left behind many unanswered questions.

     As visitors walk through the family home, so many pictures of Jessica as a happy, vibrant youth, so full of promise are visible. It is then that one must ask, what could have gone so terribly wrong to lead to such a tragic outcome. As her story unfolds, it is painfully obvious that the main culprit is a failure of the medical community to provide her with the proper care, and give her the opportunity to live a long, happy life. Hospitals, clinics, treatment facilities, who continuously fail to recognize the complexities of this silent killer, did not take the necessary steps to ensure her recovery.

     The story begins about a year and a half before this tragedy when she began to experience some depressive episodes. It was at this time that she received a misdiagnosis of depression and anxiety. Since bipolar disorder is routinely misdiagnosed, this began an odyssey for her through the mental health “maze” that has left her parents “pissed off at the system!” In reality, they echo the feelings of many parents, and loved ones, who have battled to negotiate a fragmented and woefully underfunded system. It is one that routinely fails those afflicted with these invisible killers.

     As people reflect back to the last 12 months of her life, it is shocking to discover that Jessica was hospitalized 10 times. Additionally, the number would have been higher had some hospitals been able to find a treatment facility for her, because on at least three other occasions, she was taken to the emergency room and immediately discharged. Laurelwood, Elyria Memorial, and Fairview hospitals all became complicit in her failed attempts at being provided the necessary treatment. The State of Ohio, which has drastically reduced the number of beds available to those in need, should be included for their adversarial sanctions towards people like Jessica.

     What David and Nancy Fernandez discovered is something that few people outside the mental health system understand. They, like others, are stunned to discover the medical profession’s lack of benevolence when confronted with these disorders. Shockingly, hospitals are not required to treat people with mental illness, only to make them stable enough for discharge. That is if the patient is even admitted! To better illustrate the absurdity of that process, imagine the outcry if someone with considerable chest pains arrives at an ER. At that time, rather than treat the individual, the hospital hands the patient some pills, then instructs them to seek treatment elsewhere because a bed is not available for them.

     This nomadic trek from hospital to hospital is a typical pattern that plays out daily for those afflicted. It is one that breaks down hope, and leaves the patients crying out for someone to help them. It is one that leaves parents like David and Nancy searching for answers as to how this could have occurred.

     One glaring problem in her treatment was that it does not appear that the medical profession followed the proper protocol in prescribing her medications. It is common knowledge in the mental health community that it can take at least six weeks for psychotropic drugs to begin to fully stabilize the patient. That process was never followed for Jessica, as doctors changed her medication ten times over the course of her treatment. None of them had the opportunity to fully work, nor was that time frame protocol ever explained to her or her parents.

     One has to wonder what is in the mind of the people responsible for treating this young lady. While hospitalized, she once drew a picture of herself in her journal, holding a gun to her head and pulling the trigger. Surprisingly, the medical personal at that facility found nothing wrong with that expression and shortly thereafter, discharged her from care. Young people commonly use art to express their emotions, and this was at the very least, a troubling indicator. Obviously, she had morbid thoughts while in the care of professionals, but no one acted on that clear warning sign. It is disconcerting that they not consider this self-portrait disturbing in any way.

     It must be added that on one occasion, Lauelwood would not admit her because of a positive drug test. Once again, many facilities do look for reasons to not accept people in crisis, and self-medication is one. The other is to argue that the basis for the maladaptive symptoms is behavioral in nature, not mental. This ignores that the common symptoms of mental illness is the behavior itself. An added roadblock is it will rarely be a psychiatrist that will make that judgment to discharge, as few hospitals have one on staff in the emergency room.

     There were so many other opportunities that the professionals missed. While she was on this downward spiral from her illness, she lost the ability to excel in school and had to be home schooled. As a time Magazine article titled,   “Manic Depression; Young and Bipolar” pointed out; Bipolar’s find school difficult because of the background noise of the disorder …” Her inability to function should have been a deadly warning sign to the medical providers who did not heed the symptoms of impending problems.

     There is something that must be pointed out, and that is Jessica was not your typical teenager suffering in denial. She was a unique young woman, who broke many myths of mental illness.  She never denied that she was sick, and she fought this disease in a way few people would have the courage to battle. She had a job, she did modeling, and she loved animals and possessed a passion for life that was hindered by a disease.  

     Though she broke one myth by accepting her affliction, it was the effort to find a treatment that was the main source of her downfall. . Much has been made of some past drug use, and that is a common characteristic known as self-medication. Like many others that belong to the same fraternity of “bipolar’s”, I used an alternative remedy. My treatment consisted of sitting alone in a room, drink straight Gin and take numerous Benadryl tablets. It accomplished my goal to calm my rapid thoughts and numb the emotional pain. Jessica Fernandez, though she described herself as one, was no addict. She was just a teenager trying to find something to make herself feel normal. The public does not understand that self-medication is idiosyncratic of mental illness!

     Another myth that was dispelled is that mental illness is usually prevalent only in dysfunctional families. Jessica’s parents are two particularly good hardworking people, and it is so evident of how much they loved her. They stood beside her every step of her journey, and never once gave up on her. They arranged their work schedules to be with her in case she needed them. The two of them spent countless hours in hospitals, and doctor’s offices desperately trying to save her. They did not fail Jessica, but they did discover that all the unconditional love in the world does not cure a physical malady.

     Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison, an award winning author, the head of psychiatry at John Hopkins hospital in Washington DC and a lifetime sufferer of bipolar disorder once said: People don’t realize how much suicidal people hurt, how long they hurt, and how hopelessly they hurt!”  Jessica was a girl in unbearable pain, and like countless others, found herself trapped in the confines of a deadly and misunderstood disease.

     Strangely, there were few conflicting indicators leading up to the fateful day. On the wall of her bedroom, she had a list of what she treasured most. It said; “Mom and Dad, Wisdom, Kyle, Honesty, Pets, Life, Dance and sobriety.” She also had several future dates marked on her calendar, such as her birthday and other future activates.  She did have future plans,  and she gave every indication that she was determined to get better.

     When her father was asked, what the most frustrating part of their seeking help was for Jessica, he did not hesitate “I could not get her the long term help she needed, which was at least a thirty day stay in a facility.” This is a common challenge for parents and loved ones. The facilities for long term care for Jessica are decidedly limited in number. There is little doubt that she did in fact need that long term care in a facility that would have monitored her medication closely, and allowed it the time needed to stabilize her. If that would have occurred, along with acceptance of her chronic illness, there was a strong likelihood of her recovery.

     There is one message that must be conveyed to the medical providers who insisted that Jessica’s issues were not mental, but drug related. In her autopsy report, there were no illicit drugs in her system. All that her toxicology report showed  was the medication that these professionals prescribed.  Yet, the medication that in the past, was never given a chance to work!

     If I were to write an epilogue to this story, two issues stand out. First, the intense and tireless desire of her parents who never gave up in their attempts to find the proper help for their daughter. They are two loving, and now grieving people who are now committed to helping others avoid a similar fate. They did everything humanely possible to help Jessica defeat this relentless disease.

     The second issue is to ask a simple question. When will the leaders of this State decide to finally make some positive enhancements to the mental health system? First, begin the process of making readily available treatment available to everyone. Next, it is time to MANDATE the treat them and street them mentality of the medical profession end immediately! If people think that this system is working, I know two people in Vermilion who bear witness to the pain that this barbaric system can create! Hopefully, someone in Columbus is listening!

Avon Lake, Suicide and Ignorance

    The headline in the paper spelled out this tragedy: “Avon Lake Girl’s Suicide prompts schools to offer counseling.”

     A 14 year old student at Avon Lake high school became a parent’s worst nightmare, as she ended her life by her own hands. Though little is known about this young lady, she joins an ever increasing number of students that end their life in such a drastic way. It is a death that is nearly always misunderstood, and almost exclusively linking to some form of depression. It is the third leading cause of death in high school students.

     The thoughts and prayers of everyone should be with the family, as they struggle to understand this death. Like many others, they will spend countless hours trying to make sense of this untimely death, and search for answers. Sadly, the answers to those questions may never be discovered. Many advocates, myself included, experience losses such as hers as if we were close friends, because we share a common bond. We all hope the family and friends find peace and a way to move on from this tragedy.

    All of this reminds me of the time several years ago, that I was trying to open some doors of awareness with the leaders of Avon Lake. After several conversations, I was left bewildered at such Neanderthal and outright prejudicial thinking that anyone in positions of power could ever possess.

     The first contact was with a high ranking school administrator. I approached him about doing a mental health and suicide awareness program. His response was a bit unsettling as he claimed “we have no need for those types of programs.” As I mentioned earlier, suicide is the third leading cause of death in people at the high school level, and he saw no need for more education and awareness? This leaves one to wonder why he felt that way.

     Next up was the mayor’s office, and it was here that I heard the most outrageous comment ever used to describe people afflicted with a disease. This former mayor was blunt in his assertion that he “did not want mentally ill people living in Avon Lake!”

     Avon Lake, a moderately affluent suburb with a population of over 22,000, would have over 3,500 people who suffer from a mental illness. So with that in mind, I asked this man if he planned on one day goose stepping all these people out of his community the way Hitler did back during the time of the Holocaust. With that question, this strange guy hung up the phone.

     Next on the list was some city council members, and they were just as ignorant.

     When I questioned the first one, and asked him about the mayors comments, he answered, “ I was a combat pilot so I know all about mental illness!” Now being a combat pilot is a commendable and impressive accomplishment, however, as I spoke with him, it was evident that he was just being arrogant and ignorant. He found nothing improper with comments from the mayor and, in fact, laughed about them. It makes one wonder if he flew some of his missions without oxygen at high altitude. If not, perhaps he is just an idiot!

     Next on my list was a councilman who is a local business man. He informed me that the mayor at times makes comments that are “out of character” for him. However, he refused to condemn the mayor judgments. Like the other one, he laughed and made a disparaging remark, and used the word “psychos” to describe people in crisis. It makes one wonder what other terms he uses to refer to people who are not part of his moral universe. As Martin Luther King Jr. once said,” Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity!”

     An effort to communicate with other members of this council proved fruitless. One man even said “I don’t care” and unceremoniously hung up on me. What is that old saying about cowards dying many deaths? Interestingly, several individuals who have been involved in the local chapter of the National Alliance of Mental Illness, NAMI, live in Avon Lake. Additionally, for many years support groups have been meeting in that city with the same people that this former mayor and city council members have stigmatized.

     In retrospect, it is easy to understand why I received responses from the leaders in this community. It is widely accepted that mental illness is a hugely nondiscriminatory disease. It will strike the wealthy and the destitute alike. The biggest difference is readily available treatment, and that is not always available to people in lower incomes. As their comments stand as testimony, this group is lead more with arrogance, and ignorance, rather than being exposed to enlightenment and awareness. The leaders cannot understand that mental illness is just as prevalent in their community, as it is in less affluent communities such as the city of Lorain.

     I did find a couple of bright spots and one was Judge Darrel Bilancini. He took the time to sit down with me one on one, and discuss the seriousness of this issue. He had in-depth knowledge of this concern, and was always mindful of the challenges that students do face.  I was more impressed that he was courteous and never thought mental illness is a laughing matter. A far cry from the stupidity exhibited from the city and school officials.

     I never met former mayor Karl (KC) Zuber, but I did speak on the phone with him. Like Judge Bilancini, he was respectful and intelligent. Interestingly, he was always willing to meet with me on these issues, and did show a sound understanding of this subject.

     If the community wishes to honor the life of this young lady in a positive a meaningful fashion, I have two pieces of advice.

     First, stand up to the ignorance that is displayed by the ones that mock and belittle the seriousness of mental illness. Demand awareness and understanding, which will remove the stigma and open the door for people to feel free to seek treatment. Learn to accept those afflicted with understanding, compassion, and empathy. Condemn the bigots that permeate the discriminatory practices that exist as a huge roadblock to recovery.

     Finally, take the advice of former NFL coach turned football analyst, Tony Dungy, whose son committed suicide back in 2006. He said “Parents, hug your kids each chance you get. Tell them you love them each chance you get. You don’t know when it’s going to be the last time.”

Virginia Tech, Tucson, and now Aurora Colorado…will we ever learn?

      As Harry Truman once said, “There is nothing new in the world, except the history you do not know.”

     Recently, another tragedy of unimaginable proportions occurred, this one in Aurora Colorado; which left 12 people dead, and 58 wounded 9 critically. This deadly rampage took place during a midnight episode of the new Batman movie, “The Dark Knight”. James Holmes, a disturbed young man, dressed in SWAT gear and wielding a semi-automatic weapon entered the theater and committed these atrocities, by randomly shooting innocent people.

     Since we tend to ignore history, it continues to repeat itself with the same ominous results. Predictably, the national media blasted away with their usual misplaced blame at specific groups. Repeating the mistakes made in the aftermath of the tragedy in Tucson Arizona about 19 months prior, the first target was the local Tea Party. Two notable ABC news correspondents, Brian Ross and George Stephanopoulos, did their best “Dumb and Dumber” impersonations when they alleged that the shooter was a member of the Colorado Tea Party. This announcement was orchestrated with a measure of “Yellow Journalism” not seen since those Tucson shootings, because they once again, never did check their facts. The two seemed to be blinded by their ignorance and failed to believe that there could be more than one person in Colorado with the name James Holmes. Not surprisingly, there are!

     To refresh everyone’s memory, after the tragic shootings in Tucson, the media and politicians were outlandish with their assertion that Sarah Palin and the Tea Party were somehow instrumental in that tragedy. As time went on, the world soon discovered that there was no culpability on their part, just like in Aurora Colorado. It bears adding that the alleged perpetrator in Tucson, Jared Loughner; possessed political views more in tuned with the liberal thinking Occupy Movement. However, neither Mr. Stephanopoulos nor Mr. Ross has acknowledged that as of this time nor are they likely to do so in the foreseeable future. 

     That being said, all of their stupidity distracts from the real issues, and the one challenge we need to direct more energy into, which could, in fact, prevent some of these tragedies like the ones mentioned. Recent history is illustrating that the direction we are taking in this country, is not working! Major changes in the mental health system are needed and are long overdue!

     On April 16, 2007, Seung Hui Cho, a disturbed student at Virginia Tech University shot 32 fellow students to death and wounded 17 more before killing himself. A commission was formed to study this tragedy and came up with changes in civil commitment laws, but the changes were not properly funded. According to the Treatment Advocacy Center, since 2005, in that state, the number of inpatient beds has surprisingly decreased by 15%. This in spite of calls for fundamental changes in the treatment of the severely mentally ill!

     On January 8, 2011, the aforementioned Jared Loughner, a severely mentally ill man shot and killed 6 people at a political rally in Tucson Arizona and wounded 14 others. Among the most seriously injured was U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who is still battling to recover from her near fatal wounds. In Arizona, even with all the calls for change, and with so much national attention, the number of beds has decreased by 23% in the last 7 years!

     Now we have this unthinkable massacre in Colorado. Though we do not have a confirmed diagnosis of James Holmes, there is emerging a vast deal of evidence to suggest the basis for his being so disturbed.

     Here, is a 24 year old college student who is highly intelligent, and who graduated high school with honors. He was recently enrolled in a PHD Program for neuroscience, and has been described as a very bright, quiet and pleasant person, but also a loner with no friends. Though there are people who are challenging his intellect, he did stand out academically.  Some of that does draw a comparison to the plight of Dr. John Nash, the brilliant mathematician, whose personal battle with schizophrenia, and academic prowess was chronicled in the movie “A Beautiful Mind.” It must be added that James Holmes is in an age bracket that is a high risk for developing some forms of mental illness. Again, as this case develops, much of what we learn about seems to fall within the symptomology of some form of an emotional disorder.

     Many people are calling James Holmes “evil” and no matter what the cause there is no defense for what he did. His acts were heinous in nature and in the future, he will most likely face the death penalty. I am not giving him an excuse; it is the causation of his acts that we NEED to examine and understand. This is essential to gather insight so in time; we can prevent similar tragedies from occurring. We need to grasp why a seemingly talented young man with unlimited prospects of success, drops out of school, assumes the identity of a comic book character and commits mass murder. It would not be a reach to believe that he developed some cognitive distortion that threw him into such a delusional state, and in time, we will discover what that is.

     Some in the national media are speculating that this young man exhibited no warning signs. That is highly doubtful, as it is more likely that people just did not recognize the signs as they appeared. In June, this student failed a test in his PHD program and soon after dropped out of school. Was he exhibiting signs of psychosis that clouded his mind which contributed to this failure, or did this failure trigger this violent outburst? Since it is known that he was already in the planning stages of this murderous spree, it is most probable that he was already exhibiting signs of emotional disturbances, but many people around him in school would have missed it. The main reason for that is a lack of awareness of the warning signs.

     His family has not commented on this case, except through a family attorney, but hopefully they will in the future. They can be a reliable source for exactly where this young man’s downfall began.

     There is additional information worth adding here. In Colorado, the number of mental health beds has decreased since 2005 by an eye-opening 33%, nearly two and a half times the U.S. average. Again, we still do not have a diagnosis on James Holmes, but if, in fact, he had one, there may have been seriously limited resources of help available for him. Even in his home state of California, which boasts openness and tolerance, while providing for their citizens, they reduced their inpatient beds by 16% during the same time frame. This in spite of a mental health tax put in place several years ago.

     Many of us have learned that the real insanity is not the people who are sick, it is the system! Not surprisingly, the political leaders who can change it are the ones who turn a blind eye to this problem until they can obtain an instant headline out it. It is a system that sits back helplessly while these types of atrocities occur. It is one where kids either jump off bridges or stand in front of moving trains as their only escape from pain, because they cannot find the appropriate treatment. I know as I have written an immense deal about all of these types of tragedies.

     There is a reason for people in the mental health field to become cynical, and the reduction in mental health care is the culprit. Every time a disaster likes this one occurs, politicians rally around people with promises for change. Now they are deflecting from root causes and calling for gun control among other publicity seeking, but visceral solutions. In reality, there is little ambition to correct the broken mental health system. Mainly, because a large percentage of the populace is unaware of just how dire the situation has become.

     Over the next few months our elected officials, like everyone else, will witness the initiative of promised actions for change wane from the public view, and be forgotten. Instead of real solutions, society will again become more infatuated with the talentless and shallow Kardashians, and which one is sleeping with whom while divorcing another. The desire to making positive changes ensuring readily available treatment for people in need will become a forgotten footnote to the general population, until the next tragedy occurs.

     After the Tucson shootings, there was a call for a “National Dialog on Mental illness”, and to date, that has not occurred nor is it likely to in the future. If we sincerely wish to alter the negative trends with those afflicted, increased suicide, increased disability in the workplace, more police encounters and tragedies like this the ones mentioned; many of us have a straightforward answer to everyone. Open your eyes, become more educated, and begin to force our political leaders to make treatment more accessible, and for civil commitment laws to be modernized. Otherwise, history will continue to repeat itself!    

Elyria Police;Suicide by cop...sad, but common

     This past Sunday a tragedy ensued in Elyria, which left a seemingly disturbed man dead and his family asking questions on how it was handled by the local police.

     Though all the facts are not yet known, this much is; On Sunday July 15th, William King called the dispatch center for the city of Elyria and told the dispatcher that he had killed his wife. At that point, the police were notified, and numerous officers were sent out to his residence. Once there, they seem to have attempted to communicate with Mr. King. His response was to exit his home holding a gun to his head.  At some point, he reportedly pointed his weapon at the police and they responded by discharging their weapons and mortally wounding him.

     Within a short time, family members came forward to denounce the Elyria Police Department’s handling of the situation. In fact, in a recent article, his brother Walter King was openly critical of their actions because he felt that since there were at least eight shots fired, the police were fairly aggressive in this approach.  He felt that his brother “didn’t deserve what he got!” He also went on to argue that this was not a suicide by cop.

     There are other critical comments that seemed to be overshadowed here. In the same article, Mr. King admits that his brother “had a little bit of problems,” but he did not elaborate or volunteer what he meant by that. He did go on and acknowledge that William King was a “bit down with his disease,” as he admitted that he suffered from cirrhosis of the liver.

     Though it is strictly conjecture, it would not be a stretch to conclude mental health issues played a role in this tragic death. Mr. King called the police and falsely said he had killed his wife, who it turns out was not even home at the time. He then exited his house with a gun pointed at his head. At this time, the police were witnessing the actions of someone who is “not” thinking clearly and rationally. Additionally, there is little doubt that a disease such as cirrhosis of the liver can dramatically alter your thought process. It is reasonable to believe that anyone suffering from a terminal illness would be particularly prone to depression and morbid thoughts. It must be added, that people with liver disease do at times suffer periods of confusion because their liver cannot dispel toxins properly throughout their body.  Add to this stress the painful symptoms of this illness, and it is little wonder that anyone suffering would have a difficult time keeping themselves from getting desperate.

     Personally, I can understand his brother being angry and wanting to blame the police. I am certain Mr. King was the good person as he described by him. When something catastrophic occurs people want justice and with none in sight, they will at times project some misguided blame. It appears that is what is occurring in this case.

     First and foremost, to say this was not suicide by cop is just not fair to the police officers on the scene. According to a study published in the Journal of Forensic Science, this type of suicide is one that is estimated to occur in over a third of all officer involved shootings that arise in this country. It leaves both the family and the police officers involved shaken and asking themselves if it could have been avoided. Sadly, like many suicides, once the person reaches that level of desperation it is difficult to prevent this lonely and misunderstood death.

     In the past, I suffered from severe mental illness and attempted to end my life, and only dumb luck saved me. Today I spend a vast amount of time working with law enforcement officers, assisting them in dealing with people in similar crises. This work gives me a unique perspective on these challenges. In classroom settings, I encourage police officers to defuse tense situations, but never forget, always to protect themselves first.  My primary goal is get the afflicted person some much needed help, and for the officer to go home safely to their family. 

     Though all the facts are not yet known, there are enough known to draw valid conclusions. Based on what occurred and my experience, I strongly believe that this was a suicide by cop, brought on by his illness. Clear thinking individuals do not call the police with the knowledge that it would result in an aggressive law enforcement response without a clear goal in mind. No one but Mr. King himself knows as to whether he wanted to die or wanted his suffering to end, but his actions spoke volumes.

     Addressing the topic of Mr. King’s brother with regards to the number of shots fired, one thing must be remembered. Once he pointed that weapon all the officers at the scene reacted with the impression that he could have shot at them personally. One thing is clear; Mr. King left these officers no options, but the one they choose.

     I am hoping that in time that his brother and the rest of his family can find peace and understanding about what occurred.  No one on this department wanted this ending. It was just a situation that could not be avoided. This man was suffering with a disease that in its end stage is quite painful and that could have been a contributing factor in this tragic outcome. I also hope the police officers involved can come to the realization and understand that they did nothing wrong. They were only doing their jobs and the outcome was unavoidable.

     The Elyria Police, have proven to me on more the one occasion to be a fine department, striving to do the right thing. This has not always been the case. However, in the past several years, many positive changes have taken place within the department which warrants both recognition and the citizens giving the department “the benefit of the doubt” with situations such as this.  

     The Lorain County Sheriff’s department is investigating this case. Though this department made some crucial mistakes in a tragic circumstance in Lagrange last winter which led to a deputy being wounded by friendly fire, and one man dead, I believe the actions of the Elyria Police will stand on its own merit.

    After reading some comments from the public on this tragedy, I must add a personal observation and hope my point is made clear! William King was not a criminal. William King was a man who was sick. He and his family deserve respect, compassion and sympathy from everyone. For those who have mocked his death, I urge you to remember one thing and never forget it. Anyone can get sick. Anyone can become suicidal. Any one of us could end up attempting to take our own life. If you are one of the fortunate that have never had to experience so much pain that drives you to end their life, I have some advice. Say a prayer of thanks for that blessing each and every day of your life. I know and knew many people who wish they had your good fortune!

Lagrange Tragedy; Lessons learned?

     Recently, the Elyria Police department released the detailed report on the tragedy in Lagrange, that left one man dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and a Lorain Sherriff deputy wounded by friendly fire. This event, which occurred on December 12, 2011, was the result of a phone call from the mother of the victim Travis Stidham, who contacted the department to check on the mental well-being of her son, who was in the midst of a possible mental health crisis.

     The report on this case, which has cooled in interest in over six months that have passed since the incident, shed light on what occurred that fateful night. It is a highly detailed illustration of what occurred from every conceivable viewpoint and did not affix blame or display any degree of bias. The Elyria Police should be commended for this investigation.  The errors on this case are numerous, and include all parties involved with this welfare check that went so tragically wrong.

     The tragedy began with the Mother of Stidham calling the Sherriff’s department to check on her son because he was acting in an irrational manner. She informed them that he had possibly shot up his television and killed two of his pets. With the knowledge that he possessed a firearm and that he suffered from mental health issues, the Sherriff deputies rightfully approached the situation with caution. To their credit, the deputies did speak with Travis’s father and now had ample evidence that he suffered from mental health issues.

     According to this report, the deputies set up a perimeter in the area of his home. They also witnessed him speaking with his father and exiting the house on several occasions to smoke. It must be pointed out that his father communicated to the officers that his son was “Off his rocker!” This was a direct reference to his diminishing mental state. At this time, everything though tense, was under control. Sadly, that was soon to change.

     While they encircled Stidham’s home, the deputies tried to make contact with him, but he did not answer the phone. It was at this time that a decision was made to light up the area of the home with the patrol car, and use a load speaker and declare for him to exit the house. These actions set in motion a series of events that not only lead to this man’s death, and the friendly fire wounding of a deputy; but allowed a paranoid, terrified, and psychotic individual with a weapon to be running through a neighborhood.

     At this time, a police helicopter was dispatched from Cleveland, to help locate Stidham. In time they did, and after a brief chase, Travis Stidham put his gun to his head and pulled the trigger.  

     There is no doubt that the need to bring in the helicopter to assist was the correct one, but perhaps it should have never gotten to that point.

     The error in judgment on this case was to try and force him out of his home. Speaking from firsthand experience, a person who is in psychosis suffers a vast deal of paranoia, and that appears to be what occurred here. The lights going on, and the loud speaker would have been construed by a person in crisis as an aggressive move, and in his delusional state, he would have felt threatened. At this time, the afflicted person would have become exceedingly defensive, and with flight being another symptom, running out of the house and firing the gun would have been a response to this action. It must be pointed out that in his home, Stidham was not a threat to anyone but himself.

     Time was on the side of the deputies and time brings about an ending to psychosis. In other words, the best way to manage and de-escalate a situation such as this would have been to back off and wait for the afflicted individual to calm down. Coincidently, that is what the Elyria Police did in a similar standoff about a month later.

     On January 23, of this year, the Elyria Police were called to a home where a man was suicidal and may have possessed a gun. Like Lagrange, they set up a perimeter. The difference being is that rather than force surrender, they waited for the situation to calm, and after three hours, the man excited the home, and he was transported to a local hospital for needed help.

     Crisis Intervention Team training (CIT), which is the holy grail of police training for dealing with people in mental health crisis, encourages de-escalation, and it was followed in the Elyria situation, but not in Lagrange. This situation was the result of an error in judgment, and hopefully people have learned from this. Additionally, the deputies should not bear the entire blame for the actual outcome.

     Coincidently, during a training program that I spoke at, I met and talked with one of the deputies on the scene that night. I found him to be a quality law enforcement officer and more importantly, a good person. I am certain all that were there that night were the same; they just made a grave error in judgment. However, I am equally certain their intentions were genuine, and they aspired to help Stidham.

     Lastly we affix responsibility on the person that clearly was at fault, and it was Stidham himself. There is little doubt that he was not at fault for developing this disease, Schizophrenia, though a significant segment of society seems to believe that. However, it is a cause, not an excuse! It was not his fault for developing the illness, but it became his obligation to work at getting better, staying in treatment, and accepting his affliction.

     It must be added that when the police did enter his home, they did find many pills still in the bottles that were for his condition, but none had been filled in the previous year. In essence, he was not taking the pills that would have prevented this tragedy from occurring.  Additionally, though no remains of his pets were ever discovered, it would have been easy to dispose of them. It also appears that he did indeed fire a bullet through his television set as it had a damaged screen.

     There was a startling comment from this report that bears mentioning. Six or seven months prior to this tragedy, a psychiatrist that was treating him told him “not go shooting anybody”. Once again, this doctor must have had some concern about his patient’s mental state, but with the current laws on the book, there would have been little that could have been done. Here, we have a warning sign of potential trouble, but, unless there was a direct threat, no police intervention was possible until something occurs.

     In the direct aftermath of this shootout, I wrote a column asking questions about the handling of this case. One colorful ignorant comment came from not surprisingly, an anonymous source. He or she said something to the effect, how can you expect the sheriff to train all his officers in dealing with this people like this? That person is somewhat correct; no one should expect proper police training. The citizens should DEMAND complete and updated training for all law enforcement personnel! Nothing less should be accepted!!!   

     The epilogue to the Lagrange tragedy is nothing for anyone to be boastful, nor forgetful. This case, and the ensuing aftermath exposed archaic and ineffective laws, questionable police training, and the inability to learn from mistakes and misjudgments. Sadly, it also proved once again the lack of understanding of the prevalence of mental illness, which gave people a right to consider people like Stidham expendable. This illustrated that, as a society, we are still in the “Neanderthal age of awareness” concerning these disorders. With that limited knowledge, it is understandable that we can still burn that metaphorical cross in the front yards of those afflicted, and have a large segment of the population find glee at mocking the behavior of those stigmatized. Then again, others will just shrug their shoulders and satisfy themselves that they did not witness anything obscene in cases such as this.

     The tragedy in Lagrange gives none of us cause for pride.

It's the Disease Stupid!

     The headline said it all, “Remembering Jessica.” The ensuing story described the sad and tragic circumstances that ended the life of a 16 year old aspiring model, Jessica Fernandez of Vermilion.

     This article went on to describe how this young girl, so full of promise, finally succumbed to the ravages of bipolar disorder, by standing in front of a moving train. This disease is known as a relentless condition that creates unimaginable pain, and is a significant cause of the estimated forty thousand suicides per year in the United States. Suicide, which is known as the silent epidemic, is the third leading cause of death in people between ages 14 and 23.

     In different media outlets, I noticed the inevitable cliques that seem to arise when someone commits this act. One of the most common is “a permanent solution to a temporary problem.” A notable one was one woman blaming this on a reputed “drug culture” at Amherst high school. I find that comment to be totally absurd, as I know that school well and it is a high quality system that has been proactive with students at risk. The most scornful and ignorant statement was from another that said simply, “She choose to end her life!”

     Those comments are typical, but they are not true narrations of what occurred to Jessica Fernandez. The truth of the matter is; She did not choose this illness; she did not decide to be torn apart by its ferocious symptoms and emotional pain that goes with it. She did not want to die. She just gave up the painful battle with a powerful and misunderstood disease! In layman’s terms, it was the illness, nothing more, nothing less!!!

    Her mother, Nancy Fernandez gave an accurate depiction of how this disease emotionally broke this young woman down. She simply said; “I think her will to live was gone.”

     It is true that with the ruthless nature of bipolar disorder, along with the debilitating depression that goes with it, collapses ones desire to strive for a happy existence. Jessica Fernandez did not die a meaningless death; she lost a battle that few people can understand. It is an encounter with an invisible enemy, and because the person has suffered with it alone in silence, others are NOT open to judge her or what she ultimately did.

     When I read the details of her life, it reopened many old and present unhealed wounds, because I also suffer with the same socially unacceptable disease. I thought of the past ten years when I have lived symptom free, and how, like Jessica, we both had to wake up each and every day and do battle with the demons of this illness. The public at large does not understand the challenges that we face, like being an outcast from others because they refuse to accept the psychiatric symptoms of these conditions.

     One myth that needs to be addressed here is that Jessica and others choose to end their lives. Nothing is further from the truth. Suicidal people are in a great deal of pain, and it is pain that seems to be never ending. It brings about extreme and desperate actions to end that suffering. It appears that she tried treatment, and made many efforts at getting better. I can state from a first person point of view that people with suicidal ambitions do not want to die; they just want to have their suffering end. Based on their comments, it appears her parents were also there trying to help her, but they were helpless in their attempts.

     In my case, the suicidal ideation was present, and was part of my battle with this illness for two years prior to my attempts to end my life. Like Jessica, I just did not want to be tortured by the ever present pain. Like her, I was able to hide a much of my depressive moods from others, but it finally won the battle. It was to take a few attempts and forced hospitalizations before I received a proper diagnosis and accepted treatment. The only real difference between her and I was that my treatment worked immediately, and I recovered. Otherwise, I could have certainly suffered the same fate that she did.

     Another issue brought up was her past drug use. It may or may not have been a contributing factor in this final act, but it needs to be addressed. If a person is in need of treatment, and they become so desperate from this suffering, the local drug dealer or liquor store becomes their personal pharmacy. Approximately sixty percent of individuals who suffer from this disorder develop a chemical dependency to add to their already overwhelming burden. Once again, it is the illness!!

     Like Jessica, I would do anything I could think of to feel better, just to be temporarily free of the pain. I recall many times just sitting in the back room and taking numerous Benadryl tablets with straight Gin as a way to numb myself to the emotional agony. Admittedly, I often wonder why I did not consider some street drugs as a way to alleviate that distress that I faced daily. That is commonly referred to as, “Self-Medicating”.

     Mental illness has one unique characteristic that sets it apart from other conditions. It is the only disease that makes the person afflicted feel as if they must apologize just for being diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder. Others look with evil intent and describe us as crazy people, psychos, wacko’s and other derogatory terms. They do not believe that we are people battling a deadly and debilitating disease with formidable roadblocks to overcome. So many of us become ostracized by the ignorant that refuse to recognize the biological nature of these disorders, and that recovery is possible. With the public’s lack of understanding, no matter what we achieve, external validation will normally elude us.    

     Jessica did not commit a sin, nor was her death a selfish act. She just lost a battle, and no one is at fault. In her death, she deserves the same respect and understanding that others experience when they lose a fight with any fatal disease. Do what her mother instructed others to do; “I’d advise parents to keep a strong eye on their kids for drugs or mental illness. You have to treat them properly like we were doing, and hope for the best”.

     I never met Jessica, but because of a bond we share with our mutual affliction, I mourn her loss as a friend as I have done with others that meet this tragic fate. I hope that people who did know her will respond to her memory with a better understanding of what tortured her. I encourage more people to learn to reach out to those in need, not turn their collective backs on people like her and I. A tribute like that will help prevent others from losing their battle. I can envision no greater respect for the memory of her and others who suffer such loneliness and despair.

    Rest in Peace Jessica; many of us are praying for you and your family.