From: justin@mik.uky.edu (justin sullivan)
Subject: Re: involuntary incarceration and violent means
    <1992Oct9.180828.13604@spdc.ti.com>
Organization: University Of Kentucky, Dept. of Math Sciences
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 1992 06:08:30 GMT

In <1992Oct9.180828.13604@spdc.ti.com> hughes@epcot.spdc.ti.com (Susan Hughes) writes:

>>

>Just an FYI that might be helpful; there's a lot of under- and mis-
>information about mental health warrants. Laws do vary incredibly from
>state to state, and budget crisis' across the country are making all
>states a little more cautious whose hospitalization they pay for. Texas
>is way behind on social programs of all kinds, consequently almost anyone
>who can respond semi-reasonably to a judge will walk. We found this out
>trying to commit my stepson; he was psychotic and violent, but the judge
>refused to commit him until after he assaulted someone. 

   How interesting.. Psychotic is a very relative term, but about this violence
thing..
   My parents tried to commit me once, AFTER my father fractured my skull
(by beating it on it) and AFTER my mother stabbed me (twice). When I called
the police to take these crazies away, they handcuffed *ME* and my parents
told me *I* was violent, and I never lifted a finger against them. (honestly..
actually, I just sat there and cried.. This was, needless to say, very
confusing..) <PS: Never trust a cop.. It only makes it worse.>
Does your stepson know you tried to ruin his life? I'll wager he's really
pissed off about it too.. You thought he was violent then? You just wait..
(I'm not trying to be negative, but you must understand that what you tried
to do was a very bad thing.. Most people <parents> don't realize this until
AFTER their kid comes home emotionally <and probably physically> scarred for
life).. Others just turn to drugs, then back they go.. They never live long
enough to become adults.

>    Also, still depending on the state, what gives a therapist grounds to
>request a mental health warrant vary. They're also real secretive about
>what those limits are. I've never gotten a clear answer on where they draw
>the line, but possible strategies might be to call a shrink and/or Suicide
>Prevention and find out what they suggest for your *friend* that is acting
>depressed. If you ask for a commitment, they'll tell you when it's possible
>and when it's not. Check some of this out before you decide to forgo therapy 
>completely. I may never win any mental health awards, but my counselor has 
>helped with a lot of things. As a precaution, after one REAL bad experience
>with a power-junkie I saw before I got my current counselor, accurate info
>on the initial paperwork(name,address,phone) is optional for as long as you
>feel it necessary.

   I'm glad there aren't more like you.. If you only knew the half of it, you
would understand how easy it is to have someone committed.. Just imagine
having EVERYTHING you say or do (no matter how innocuous) being used against
you.. By the time they're through with you (I hope you didn't enjoy basic
human decency very much.. You're sure going to miss it when they take you
away), you will begin to see how everyone really *IS* crazy.. It all depends
on how you look at it.
   Don't feel bad for being so gullible and naive.. Hopefully, you've learned
your lesson. A bit of advice, though.. If you think you're stepson is 
'fighting' you, have you ever thought that it just might be the other way
around?
Newsgroups: alt.suicide.holiday