Rethinking interactions between police and the mentally ill

Summary

The ABC News report by Trevor Alt highlights the nationwide issue of police departments' preparedness to handle mental illness, particularly schizophrenia. It tells the story of a family affected by the condition and explores the need for a reimagined crisis response. The piece features Mimi Feldman and her son Nick, who suffers from schizophrenia, and discusses the challenges of treatment and the risks associated with police interactions. It also examines alternative crisis management approaches, such as Eugene, Oregon's unarmed medic and crisis worker program, and the Biden administration's proposal to allocate $5 billion towards community-based policing. The report emphasizes the importance of addressing mental health before it escalates into a crisis and the need for a more compassionate and effective response system.

Takeaways

• 😔 The devastating impact of mental illness, particularly schizophrenia, affects millions and raises concerns about police departments' preparedness to handle such cases.
• 👨‍👩‍👦 The story of Nick, a young man with schizophrenia, illustrates the personal and familial struggle with mental illness and its progression over time.
• 🎨 Nick's artistic talent and the impact of his mental illness on his creativity and life highlight the human side of those living with mental disorders.
• 🚨 The fear and misunderstanding surrounding interactions between people with mental illnesses and law enforcement, which can sometimes lead to tragic outcomes.
• 🤔 The need for society to better understand mental illnesses and the fact that those suffering are not inherently violent, contrary to common misconceptions.
• 🛑 The disproportionate risk of violence faced by individuals with untreated mental illnesses, especially when in contact with law enforcement.
• 🏥 The importance of crisis management teams, like CAHOOTS in Eugene, Oregon, which deploy medics and crisis workers instead of armed police to mental health emergencies.
• 👮‍♂️ Support from police chiefs like Chris Skinner for alternative crisis response programs, recognizing the limitations of traditional law enforcement in mental health situations.
• 🔄 The ongoing discussions and efforts to reimagine policing and crisis response in America, with a focus on community-based and mental health-centered approaches.
• 💔 The emotional and psychological toll on families, like Mimi Feldman's, who must navigate the challenges of mental illness and the potential dangers of police encounters.
• 🌐 The Biden administration's proposal to allocate $5 billion towards community-based policing, indicating a shift in focus towards more holistic and preventive mental health strategies.
• 🙏 The call for empathy, understanding, and better training in law enforcement to respect and serve the community, especially in dealing with mental health crises.

Q & A

What is the main issue discussed in the video script?

The main issue discussed is the devastating effect of mental illness, particularly schizophrenia, on individuals and families, and the question of whether police departments are equipped to handle people who suffer from these conditions.

Who is the family featured in the script, and what is their connection to mental illness?

The family featured is Mimi Feldman and her husband Craig O'Rourke, whose son Nick suffers from schizophrenia, illustrating the impact of mental illness on their lives.

What is schizophrenia, and how does it affect the brain?

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by delusional thinking and hallucinations. It is a progressive disease that deteriorates the brain, often requiring changes in medication and treatment approaches.

How does the script describe the experience of having a family member with schizophrenia?

The script describes it as a situation where the family member is physically present but mentally absent, like a death without the ability to grieve or move past it, causing the family to let go of dreams for their loved one.

What is the misconception about people with mental illness and violence?

The misconception is that people with mental illness are inherently violent. However, government data shows they are more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators.

Why are people with untreated mental illness more likely to be killed by law enforcement?

People with untreated mental illness, particularly those with delusional thinking, are unlikely to respond to rational intervention and may pose a perceived threat, leading to a higher likelihood of deadly encounters with law enforcement.

What is the crisis management approach adopted by the city of Eugene, Oregon?

Eugene has adopted a public safety system called CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets), which deploys a medic and a crisis worker, both unarmed, to safely de-escalate mental health emergencies instead of sending police officers.

How does Mimi Feldman view the current mental health system in the United States?

Mimi Feldman views the current mental health system as terribly broken, suggesting that calling it broken might even be a compliment, indicating the extent of the issues within the system.

What is the role of Erica Ford and her organization, Life Camp, in addressing mental health crises and police response?

Erica Ford, CEO of Life Camp, is partnering with the NYPD to address issues like mental illness and police response to it, aiming to end gun violence and improve community-based crisis management.

What is the proposed federal plan regarding community-based policing mentioned in the script?

The Biden administration is proposing a federal plan to allocate five billion dollars toward community-based policing, aiming to shift some of the allocations from traditional policing to crisis management systems.

What is Mimi Feldman's hope and dream for her son Nick, who has schizophrenia?

Mimi's hope and dream for Nick is complex and tinged with the reality of his condition. She expresses a deep sense of loss for the life he had and the dreams she had for him, while also acknowledging the importance of accepting him as he is now.

Outlines

00:00

🚨 Police Response to Mental Health Crises 🚨

This paragraph discusses the devastating impact of mental illness, particularly schizophrenia, on individuals and families. It highlights the nationwide issue of whether police departments are adequately equipped to handle crises involving those with mental health conditions. The story of Nick, a young man diagnosed with schizophrenia, is used to illustrate the challenges faced by families and the importance of understanding mental illness. The paragraph also touches on the progressive nature of the disease, the lack of a one-size-fits-all treatment, and the potential dangers of police intervention in mental health crises, including the increased likelihood of violence against those with untreated mental illness.

05:01

🛡️ Reimagining Crisis Response and Mental Health Support 🛡️

The second paragraph delves into the efforts to reimagine crisis response and mental health support in America. It recounts the experiences of Mimi Feldman, whose son Nick's schizophrenia diagnosis has significantly impacted their lives. The narrative emphasizes the need for better understanding and treatment of mental health issues before they escalate into crises. The paragraph also explores alternative approaches to crisis management, such as the CAHOOTS program in Eugene, Oregon, which deploys unarmed medics and crisis workers to handle mental health emergencies. The discussion includes the broader context of racial disparities in police interactions and the Biden administration's proposal to allocate federal funds towards community-based policing. The challenges of accessing mental health care and the emotional toll on families are also highlighted, with Mimi expressing her fears and hopes for her son's future.

Keywords

💡Mental Illness

Mental illness refers to a wide range of mental health conditions that affect mood, thinking, and behavior, impairing the ability to function normally. In the video, mental illness is the central theme, focusing on the devastating impact on individuals and families, particularly highlighting the case of Nick, who suffers from schizophrenia.

💡Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech and behavior, and impaired cognitive ability. The script discusses Nick's struggle with schizophrenia, illustrating the progressive nature of the disease and its effect on his life and family.

💡Police Departments

Police departments are the segments of local governments responsible for law enforcement. The video raises the question of whether these departments are adequately equipped to handle individuals with mental health conditions, suggesting a need for specialized training or alternative crisis response teams.

💡Crisis Response

Crisis response refers to the actions taken to address and manage critical incidents or emergencies. The script explores the idea of reimagining crisis response work to better accommodate individuals with mental illnesses, such as deploying medics and crisis workers instead of armed police officers.

💡Mimi Feldman

Mimi Feldman is the mother of Nick, who is diagnosed with schizophrenia. She represents the perspective of families affected by mental illness, expressing her fears and the challenges they face when their loved ones interact with law enforcement and the healthcare system.

💡Medic

A medic is a healthcare professional trained to provide emergency medical treatment. In the context of the video, medics are part of the proposed alternative crisis response teams, aiming to de-escalate situations involving individuals with mental health issues without the use of force.

💡Crisis Worker

A crisis worker is a professional trained to assist individuals during times of crisis, often providing support and intervention to those with mental health challenges. The script mentions the deployment of crisis workers alongside medics in Eugene, Oregon, as a non-violent approach to mental health emergencies.

💡De-escalation

De-escalation is the process of calming a situation down to prevent it from becoming more dangerous or violent. The video discusses the importance of de-escalation in crisis response, particularly when dealing with individuals experiencing mental health crises, as an alternative to traditional law enforcement tactics.

💡Community-Based Policing

Community-based policing is a strategy that focuses on building relationships between police officers and community members to address public safety issues collaboratively. The script mentions a federal plan proposed by the Biden administration to allocate funds toward community-based policing, indicating a shift towards more integrated and preventive approaches to law enforcement.

💡Mental Health System

The mental health system encompasses the organizations, professionals, and treatments available to support individuals with mental health conditions. The video describes the current mental health system as 'terribly broken,' highlighting the need for reform and investment in more effective and compassionate care.

💡Life Camp

Life Camp is a crisis management service in New York, similar to the CAHOOTS program in Eugene. The script mentions Life Camp as an example of an organization partnering with the NYPD to address mental health issues and police responses, aiming to create a more effective and less violent approach to public safety.

Highlights

Mental illness, particularly schizophrenia, has a devastating effect on millions and raises concerns about police departments' preparedness to handle such conditions.

Schizophrenia affects over two million Americans, characterized by delusions and hallucinations, with no blanket treatment and progressive nature.

People with mental illnesses are often misunderstood, with the misconception that they are inherently violent; in reality, they are more likely to be victims of violence.

Untreated mental illness increases the risk of being killed by law enforcement by 16 times, highlighting the urgent need for improved crisis response.

Mimi Feldman and her family share their personal experience with her son Nick's schizophrenia, illustrating the profound impact on family dynamics.

The city of Eugene, Oregon, has adopted a crisis management approach called CAHOOTS, deploying medics and crisis workers instead of armed police for mental health emergencies.

Police Chief Chris Skinner supports the CAHOOTS program, acknowledging the strain on police departments to handle societal issues beyond their capacity.

Mental health emergencies can escalate quickly without proper crisis response teams, as experienced by parents like Mimi who must intervene in tense situations.

Erica Ford, CEO of Life Camp in New York, is working with the NYPD to address mental health issues and police responses, aiming to reduce gun violence.

The Biden administration is proposing a federal plan to allocate $5 billion towards community-based policing to improve mental health crisis responses.

Mental health treatment before a crisis can be cost-prohibitive in the current healthcare system, making it difficult for families to access necessary care.

Mimi Feldman reflects on the emotional toll of her son's illness, the dreams she had to let go of, and the reality of his changed life.

The transcript highlights the need for a reimagined approach to policing and mental health, with a focus on community-based solutions and less reliance on armed intervention.

The story emphasizes the importance of understanding and addressing mental illness, as well as the potential for innovative crisis response programs to save lives.

The transcript concludes with a call to action for better mental health care and support systems, recognizing the privilege some families have in advocating for their loved ones.

Transcripts

we turn out to mental illness it's

devastating effect on millions and the

question of whether police departments

are equipped to handle people who suffer

from these conditions

abc's trevor alt reports on this

nationwide problem through the eyes of a

family upended by schizophrenia

and the people trying to reimagine

crisis response work

say something when it first happened

he was gone he was not here with

us anymore and imagine looking at

your son standing in front of you

beautiful

all in one piece like he always was

right there

but gone it's like a death but you

don't get to grieve like a death you

don't get to

move past it like a deaf

we all look at facebook and look at

your son's friends growing up and

your son is just kind of stuck in time

and

you have to let go of all the dreams

that you have

my disappointment is even secondary to

imagine his disappointment he lost the

life that he had too

tucked into the forested hills of

southern washington you'll find the home

of mimi feldman and her husband craig

o'rourke

both of them lifelong artists see all

these lines of

these post-its they're all ideas backed

up here

and inside hanging next to their own

work

is that of their son nick painted before

his mental illness in mimi's words

swept through their lives like a gale

force hurricane

his drive to

push color across the surface is so

strong

that he has to keep doing it

no matter what and i realized that

he has this disease that makes maybe his

mind

a scary place sometimes nick is one of

more than two million americans

diagnosed with schizophrenia

characterized by delusional thinking and

hallucinations

the disease deteriorates the brain there

is no blanket treatment

and even the most effective medication

will likely come with significant side

effects

the disease is progressive so the

disease changes and then it has to be

addressed with more medication

or very often the person themselves

feels that they're better now and then

they stop taking the medication

as i sat down with nick his parents told

me because of his latest medication

this was the best he'd been in a decade

is it

possible for you to describe what

it's like with your mental illness

like stress and

in balance like with the mood and energy

yeah do you think that people need to

learn more about that

subject well i know that people can be

misunderstood

and what many people misunderstand is

that a person with a mental illness

is not inherently violent in fact

government data shows people with severe

mental illness are more likely to be

victims of violence than perpetrators

but in a crisis a person with delusional

thinking is unlikely to respond to

rational intervention

people with untreated mental illness are

16 times more likely to be killed by law

enforcement

it's something mimi fears whenever her

son comes into contact with the police

actually i called 9-1-1 and i asked for

an ambulance

and the police showed up first that i

started to explain

nick's situation and he said to me

don't even tell me you know don't bother

telling me tell it to the ambulance sell

to the medical people when they come

and i looked him in the eye and i said

well you're the guy with the gun

so i'm going to tell this to you and i'm

going to stand between you and my son

there's a lot of cities that are trying

to shift towards more crisis management

teams are you happy to see those

developments

yeah i'm very happy to see that develop

i think that

it's so far from being functional it

ties into the whole mental health

system which is so terribly broken i

mean i think to call it broken is

a compliment

just a few hours south eugene oregon is

one of the first

cities to adopt that approach we're

having some really really

candid conversations about whether or

not the police department should be the

response to some of those crisis

for more than 30 years eugene has relied

on a public safety system called

cahoots crisis assistance helping out on

the streets

instead of sending a cop for mental

health emergencies they deploy a medic

and a crisis worker neither of them

armed to try to safely de-escalate the

situation

and the city's police chief chris

skinner says his department is one of

the program's biggest supporters

for years we've been asked to do more

and more and more we're often times the

fallback or the the trap that catches

everything that society has not

created capacity for but right now as

much of the country lacks the comfort of

a crisis response team

mental health emergencies can quickly

turn into a terrified parent like mimi

begging for patience or mercy between an

officer

and her son something most would

consider a nightmare but she says

in america it's a privilege if i was

black or brown

if i was in different shoes in this life

i don't know that i would

have the luxury of saying i'm going to

stand between you

and my son i'm finding myself

fighting battles and in situations that

weren't

necessarily anything that i thought i

would but i get to go in there

with a different position of privilege

than other people do

the examples of these encounters

becoming deadly are countless

in texas patrick warren jr says he

called 9-1-1

asking for a mental health check-up of

his father only to see his dad gunned

down in front of him

in california the family of angelo

quinto says he was depressed and having

a mental health episode

and died days after an officer allegedly

put a knee on his neck

which the police deny in new york joe

prude called emergency services saying

his brother daniel had a history of

schizophrenia and was suicidal

daniel died days after officers placed a

mesh hood over his head

face down after he spat at them police

related deaths like these

have sparked growing calls to reimagine

policing in america

in jamaica queens new york erica ford is

the ceo of

life camp a crisis management service

similar to cahoots in eugene

her team is partnering with the nypd to

address issues like mental illness and

the police response to it

in hopes of ending gun violence out

there doing dynamic work for the

community

the problem is in the general training

how much do you respect the community

that you say you're serving protecting

it takes us not living in our own lenses

and our own history is about how we

approach any individual

and already among the people listening

to erica and her team

is the biden administration proposing a

federal plan to allocate

five billion dollars toward

community-based policing

the whole system comes at mental health

right

we need to shift some of the allocations

of what nypd is doing

to the funds of the new york city crisis

management system

of course the best response to a mental

health crisis is one that treats the

illness

before it's a crisis right now in this

country with this

health care system that can come at a

heavy cost i'm doing the best i can but

i mean

even me with everything in my favor it's

been nearly impossible and it's taken

over my whole life

your son is not who he was supposed to

be

as you've said what are your hopes and

dreams for nick

now in the early years when it was so

hard and i was trying to hold everything

together

a little routine where i would after

dinner i would go in the bathroom and i

would run the shower and i would just

lie down on the bathroom floor and cry

and um one day i came out of my little

cry fest

and there was one of my daughters and

she said to me mom

why are you crying and i said i'm crying

because i miss your brother

and she says what do you mean you miss

him he's not gone he's still

here and i just said yeah but he's not

who he was supposed to be

and she looks at me and she says yeah he

is

it's just not what you thought

such an important story to tell our

thanks to trevor for bringing that to us

hi everyone george stephanopoulos here

thanks for checking out the abc news

youtube channel

if you'd like to get more videos show

highlights and watch live event coverage

click on the right over here to

subscribe to our channel and don't

forget to download the abc news app for

breaking news alerts thanks for watching