A mother's story of why mental illness 'should never be a crime'

Summary

Jerri Clark, founder of Mothers of the Mentally Ill, shares her son Calvin's struggle with bipolar disorder and the inadequate support he received. Despite showing signs of mental illness, Calvin faced legal challenges and ended up in jail before finally receiving treatment. His story highlights the need for better mental health care and the dangers of criminalizing mental illness. Now, with support, Calvin is rebuilding his life, demonstrating the transformative power of proper care.

Takeaways

• 🏆 Jerri Clark's son Calvin was a bright and athletic young man who excelled in high school activities.
• 🔍 During his freshman year of college, Calvin began exhibiting signs of mental illness, which his mother recognized as a serious issue.
• 🚨 Calvin's behavior escalated to the point where he was a danger to himself and others, leading to his involuntary hospitalization.
• 🏥 Despite being detained under the Involuntary Treatment Act, Calvin did not receive adequate support or treatment for his bipolar disorder.
• 🚔 Calvin's involuntary hospitalization was complicated by a bench warrant for his arrest due to a DUI charge he couldn't attend.
• 📉 After a brief hospital stay, Calvin's condition worsened, and he was released without a clear plan for ongoing care or support.
• 🚨 Jerri's attempts to get her son help were met with bureaucratic obstacles and a lack of legal pathways to ensure his treatment.
• 🗝️ Calvin's mental health crisis led to a series of unfortunate events, including time in jail and a suicide attempt.
• 🛑 The system failed to provide timely and appropriate care, resulting in Calvin's deteriorating mental state and multiple suicide attempts.
• 🏡 After a suicide attempt, Calvin was finally admitted to a hospital in a different state due to a lack of available beds in Washington.
• 🚑 However, even after meeting the criteria for involuntary treatment, Calvin was released after five days when he no longer posed an 'imminent threat'.
• 🌉 Calvin was abandoned at a homeless shelter and later arrested, highlighting the systemic failures in providing continuous care for the mentally ill.
• 🤝 Eventually, through the efforts of a social worker and public defender, Calvin received a release plan with housing and support, illustrating the importance of a coordinated approach to mental health care.

Q & A

What was the initial indication that Jerri Clark's son Calvin was experiencing mental health issues?

During Calvin's freshman year of college, he became very confused and started talking in circles, which led Jerri to suspect mental illness.

What unusual behavior did Calvin exhibit that made his family realize the severity of his condition?

Calvin ran around the house, became concerned that the downstairs bathroom was possessed, and performed a ceremony there, asking his mother never to enter it again.

What was the incident that led to Calvin being taken to a hospital?

Calvin was found by highway patrol on the side of the highway, not making much sense, and was suspected of being under the influence of drugs, leading to a hospital visit for a drug test.

Why was Calvin detained under the Involuntary Treatment Act?

He lashed out at security guards at the hospital, which led to him being determined as a danger to others, resulting in his detention under the Involuntary Treatment Act.

What legal complication arose due to Calvin's hospitalization?

While hospitalized, Calvin missed his initial hearing for a DUI charge, leading to a bench warrant being issued for his arrest.

How did the hospitalization affect Calvin's mental state upon release?

Calvin was as psychotic and manic after the two-week hospitalization as he had been before entering the hospital, indicating no improvement.

What was the county crisis office's advice when Jerri expressed concern for her son's safety?

The crisis office advised Jerri to call the police and let Calvin get arrested, with the expectation that he would then receive help.

Why was there no legal pathway to divert Calvin into the hospital after he was jailed?

Jerri was misled by the crisis office; there was no legal mechanism in place to divert him into the hospital after his arrest on the bench warrant.

How did Calvin's mental health deteriorate further after his release from jail?

Calvin became more unstable, to the point where his parents became afraid of him, and he attempted to lock them out of their house.

What was the turning point that led to Calvin finally receiving involuntary treatment?

Calvin was found wandering in traffic, threatening to kill himself by lighting himself on fire, which met the threshold for involuntary treatment.

What challenges did Calvin face after being released from the hospital in Portland, Oregon?

After five days, when he no longer met the threshold of imminent threat, he was dropped off at a homeless shelter and later attempted suicide by jumping off a bridge.

How did Jerri Clark's support system help Calvin after his suicide attempt?

The director of the jail connected Jerri with the director of psychiatric services, and a social worker arranged a release plan with housing and support for Calvin.

What is Jerri Clark's message in her 'Brief But Spectacular' take on mental illness?

Jerri Clark's message is that mental illness should never be treated as a crime and that there is a need for better support and understanding for those affected.

Outlines

00:00

😔 Struggle with Mental Illness and Systemic Barriers

Jerri Clark, the founder of Mothers of the Mentally Ill, recounts her son Calvin's experience with bipolar disorder and the inadequate support he received. Calvin, a bright and athletic young man, began showing signs of mental illness during his freshman year of college. His condition worsened, leading to erratic behavior and a mistaken belief that his home was haunted. After a series of unfortunate events, including a DUI charge and involuntary hospitalization, Calvin faced a system that failed to provide the necessary care. Despite Jerri's efforts to get help for her son, he was misdirected and even jailed, which exacerbated his mental state. The narrative highlights the challenges faced by those with mental illnesses and the shortcomings of the healthcare system in providing timely and appropriate treatment.

05:01

💔 The Tragic Consequences of Inadequate Care

Following a failed suicide attempt and subsequent arrest, Jerri's son was released from a mental hospital into a homeless shelter, where he spent a night before attempting suicide again by jumping off a bridge. Miraculously, he survived and was arrested shortly after. The director of the jail facilitated a connection with psychiatric services, and a social worker arranged a release plan that included housing and support for Calvin. This support system has been instrumental in his recovery, and Jerri expresses her pride in her son's resilience and determination to rebuild his life meaningfully. The story emphasizes the importance of proper care and support for individuals with mental illnesses and advocates for a system that treats mental health as a health issue, not a criminal one.

Keywords

💡Mental Illness

Mental illness refers to a wide range of mental health conditions that affect mood, thinking, and behavior, impairing an individual's ability to function normally. In the video, Jerri Clark's son Calvin is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which is a type of mental illness characterized by extreme emotional highs (mania) and lows (depression). The script illustrates the challenges faced by individuals with mental illness and their families, as Calvin's condition leads to confusion, erratic behavior, and a sense of danger.

💡Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a specific mental illness characterized by periods of mania and depression. In the script, Calvin's bipolar disorder is central to the narrative, as it affects his behavior and leads to a series of unfortunate events, including his detainment and the challenges in receiving appropriate treatment.

💡Involuntary Treatment Act

The Involuntary Treatment Act is a legal provision that allows for the detention and treatment of individuals with mental health conditions when they are deemed a danger to themselves or others. In the video, Calvin is detained under this act after lashing out at hospital security, highlighting the complexities of the legal system's interaction with mental health crises.

💡Imminent Threat

Imminent threat is a criterion used to determine if an individual in a mental health crisis qualifies for involuntary treatment. The script mentions that in Washington state, an individual must meet the criteria of an imminent threat to be considered for such treatment. This concept is crucial as it sets a high bar for intervention, which can delay or prevent necessary treatment for individuals like Calvin.

💡Crisis Intervention

Crisis intervention refers to the immediate response and assistance provided to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. In the video, Jerri attempts to get crisis intervention for her son, but faces a lack of legal pathways to divert him into hospital care, illustrating the challenges in accessing timely and appropriate support during mental health emergencies.

💡Suicidal Ideation

Suicidal ideation is the thought of engaging in actions that would result in one's own death. In the script, Calvin exhibits suicidal ideation when he talks about lighting himself on fire and later attempts suicide by jumping off a bridge, underscoring the severity of his mental health condition and the urgency for intervention.

💡Misdiagnosis

Misdiagnosis occurs when a medical condition is incorrectly identified or when the correct diagnosis is delayed. In the video, there is an implication that Calvin's initial interaction with the highway patrol led to a suspicion of drug use rather than recognizing his mental health crisis, which could have contributed to the inadequate initial response to his situation.

💡Stigma

Stigma refers to the negative attitudes and discrimination associated with certain conditions or groups, including mental illness. The video suggests that the stigma surrounding mental illness may have influenced the police officer's dismissive response to Jerri's call about her son's mental health emergency, reflecting the societal challenges faced by individuals with mental health conditions.

💡Support System

A support system consists of people and resources that provide assistance and encouragement to individuals in need. In the video, Jerri mentions the social worker and the public defender's office as part of a support system that eventually helps Calvin, illustrating the importance of a comprehensive support network in the recovery and rehabilitation process.

💡Recovery

Recovery in the context of mental health refers to the process of regaining stability and improving one's quality of life despite the presence of a mental health condition. The script concludes with Calvin doing 'amazing' and making his life meaningful, showcasing the possibility of recovery and the importance of continued support and treatment.

💡Mothers of the Mentally Ill

Mothers of the Mentally Ill is a group founded by Jerri Clark, which likely aims to provide support and advocacy for families with loved ones who have mental health conditions. The group is mentioned in the video as a testament to Jerri's efforts to not only help her son but also to contribute to the broader community affected by mental illness.

Highlights

Jerri Clark, founder of Mothers of the Mentally Ill, shares her son's story of inadequate support after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Calvin, Jerri's son, was intelligent and athletic, excelling in high school speech and debate.

During college, Calvin's mental health deteriorated, exhibiting signs of mental illness.

Calvin's behavior escalated to the point where Jerri realized they were in real trouble.

He was found by highway patrol, leading to a hospital visit and involuntary treatment under suspicion of drug use.

In Washington state, individuals in mental health crises must meet criteria of imminent threat for involuntary treatment.

Calvin missed a DUI hearing due to hospitalization, resulting in a bench warrant for his arrest.

Despite hospitalization, Calvin's mental state did not improve, and Jerri sought help from the county crisis office.

Jerri was advised to have Calvin arrested to get him help, but this led to further complications.

Calvin's mental health worsened in jail, with no legal pathway to divert him into hospital care.

Jerri's son appeared in a video monitor from jail, showing signs of severe mental distress.

Calvin's condition deteriorated to the point where Jerri and her husband became afraid of him.

Despite meeting the threshold for involuntary treatment, Calvin was released to a homeless shelter due to lack of hospital beds.

Calvin attempted suicide by jumping off a bridge, but survived and realized he had more to live for.

After being arrested again, Calvin received support from the jail director and psychiatric services.

A social worker and public defender arranged a release plan for Calvin, including housing and support.

Calvin is now doing well, with a desire to make his life meaningful and work towards recovery.

Jerri Clark advocates for mental illness not to be treated as a crime, highlighting the need for better support systems.

Transcripts

JUDY WOODRUFF: Mental illness can, of course, be a very difficult both for patients and

their families.

In a special episode of Brief But Spectacular, Jerri Clark, the founder of the group Mothers

of the Mentally Ill, tells the story of her son, who failed to receive adequate support

after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

JERRI CLARK, Founder, Mothers of the Mentally Ill: My son Calvin is 22.

He was very smart from a very young age.

In high school, he got hooked into the speech and debate club, and immediately started winning

awards.

He was also really athletic.

And we were so proud of him.

During my son's freshman year of college, he was very confused, so we took him home,

and he was talking and talking and talking in circles, when it suddenly occurred to me

that this was probably mental illness.

He was running around the house, and he became very concerned that our downstairs bathroom

had been possessed.

He did some kind of ceremony in there.

He closed the door and asked me to never, ever go in that room again because it wasn't

safe.

And that's when I knew we were in real trouble.

My husband got a call that my son had been found by highway patrol on the side of the

highway, and he wasn't making much sense.

My son said he thought the car would run off of his own energy.

Drugs were suspected, so the officer took my son to a hospital for a drug test.

Because he lashed out at the security guards at the hospital, he was determined to be a

danger to others, and so he was detained under the Involuntary Treatment Act.

In the state of Washington -- and this is true in most of the states of the country

-- an individual in a mental illness crisis has to meet the criteria of imminent threat.

While he was there, the initial hearing for his DUI charge came up.

And so I called the courthouse and said, he won't be able to attend that hearing because

he's being detained.

The court said that an arraignment for a DUI charge was non-negotiable and that a bench

warrant would automatically be issued for his arrest.

Within a day of leaving that two-week hospitalization, he was as psychotic and manic as he had been

before he went into the hospital.

I called the county crisis office, and explained that I feared for my son's safety.

And I said I can't call the police because there's a bench warrant for his arrest.

They said, call the police.

Go ahead, and let him get arrested, and then we will get him some help.

They took him to jail and booked him on the bench warrant.

And I immediately started calling to try to figure out how they were going to now divert

him into the hospital, as crisis had explained.

There was no legal pathway to do that.

I had been misled.

The next time I saw my son, he was on a video monitor from jail.

I could tell by his eyes that my son was out of his mind.

He was in a suicide vest, and he had a black eye and a fat lip.

And he was talking in a robotic voice that sounded almost like a computer.

It wasn't my son.

He came out of the system much sicker.

Up until that time, we had been terribly afraid for our son.

During that time, we became afraid of our son.

He came and banged on the door.

He pushed past me and locked me and my husband out of our house.

I believed that my son had finally met the threshold for involuntary treatment.

So, I called 911, and said we had a medical emergency.

And the police officer who talked to me sneered at me and said, "Your son will not be taken

into care for a nonexistent mental health condition."

I got a call the next morning from police, who had found him in the middle of the street

wandering in traffic, and he said he was going to kill himself by lighting himself on fire.

He finally met the illusive threshold of the Involuntary Treatment Act, and he was taken

to a hospital.

But Washington state didn't have any beds, so the ambulance took him across the river

into Portland, Oregon.

But, after five days, my son no longer met the threshold of imminent threat.

So, they put him in a cab, and dropped him off at a homeless shelter.

My son spent one night in that homeless shelter, got up the next morning, and jumped off the

highway bridge into the Columbia River to kill himself.

My son is a really good swimmer, and he told me later that, when he hit the water, he realized

that it had been a mistake and that he had other things to do in this life.

One week after my son was dumped at a homeless shelter by a mental hospital, he was arrested.

I was deeply afraid for his safety, because I knew that he would be suicidal.

The director of the jail was kind to me and connected me to the director of psychiatric

services.

The social worker, who is working through the public defender's office, was able to

arrange a release plan for my son that includes housing and wraparound support.

They are enthusiastic, encouraging, and amazing supports to my son.

And they assertively help him with putting his life back together.

My son right now is doing amazing, and I'm so proud of him, because he wants to make

his life work and he wants to make his life meaningful.

My name is Jerri Clark, and this is my Brief But Spectacular take on why mental illness

should never be a crime.

JUDY WOODRUFF: We are so grateful for your story, Jerri Clark.

Tonight's Brief But Spectacular was produced in collaboration with Olympia, Washington-based

political reporter Austin Jenkins of the Northwest News Network.

You can find a bonus episode with Jenkins on our Web site at PBS.org/NewsHour/Brief.