A very difficult problem, and one which I have direct experience of in my extended family.

more private for him to go to. The family could have had him committed, but maybe they misjudged how serious the situation was. I'm not sure how I feel about this story; it hits close to home in my family. It might be a simple tragedy and the family should be left alone to deal with it. But it could also be the result of something very seriously wrong in the family that the father would want covered up. I think a thorough investigation of it should be done, as I would say in any similar situation in any family.

I admit to not feeling secure in my understanding of the circumstance of that...

But, based on my personal experience with involuntary detention, Gus probably could only contribute to an evaluation leading to his release through cooperation during an assessment interview. The actual decision for further detention would have been out of his hands.

I say that not to point fingers at anyone, but to suggest alternatives to the proposition that Gus Deeds refused treatment. I certainly don't know at this time that he refused treatment. IMO it's just as likely that his demeanor during his interview was such that he was deemed safe to be released.

We know the initial published excuse for his not having been detained focused on lack of a bed in any nearby psych unit. The post here suggests beds in other locations were available and so challenges the credibility of that claim.

Yet, the limited evidence suggests that Gus Deeds was sufficiently aroused later in that day to attack his father. We really don't know, yet, how that state of mind developed and whether or not he masked that during his interview.

People get angry and resentful about being forced into such detentions--we don't know if that experience precipitated the attack on his father, but it's a possibility.

Looks like the family wanted to keep the kid under the radar.

It's about denial and love. No one wants to put someone they love in a hospital with a bunch of strangers. You tell yourself that you can take better care of them. That he/she just needs more attention, etc. Sen. Deeds, from all accounts, was incredibly close to his son. He may have made a huge mistake, but I'm not going to point fingers at anyone in this. It's much too sad.

This can only be a teachable moment for other families and friends with a loved one suffering from mental illness. You can't do it alone. Get them help, even if they protest. It's hard, really hard, but you could be saving a life.

We need to remove the stigma of mental illness. That would be a huge step.

Please do not judge until you've walked in those painful, painful shoes.
(thank you for a gentle, generous post)

HMOs do not like to "outsource" their patients. The people in charge of finding a place for him, may have only looked at their own "network" facilities, and finding no openings, sent him home to wait until something opened up.

Mental illnesses as severe as his apparently was, do not "wait" easily.

If an eco then you have to go in front of a magistrate and give evidence to get it. Then the state has to find a bed for them, and they will be taken into custody of the sheriffs office and taken to the facility.

If so, that didn't work out so well.

were some available, or surely he could have pulled some strings. Something's off about the story.

And an eco could be obtained, then the state and sheriffs office take over and find a place either inba facility or in the hospital with a deputy to guard and ensure his safety. I hate to blame the family as they are victims but the state cant be blamed if the family dont inform them there is an issue.

I'm thinking the guy that just stabbed his father and then shot himself, was not really the typical person looking for a bed in a place for those with mental health issues. There was most likely something more serious or even sinister going on the day(s) before.

I was thinking more of premeditated planning of the act, rather than a spur of the moment thing. But no, it doesn't get any more serious between the two, other than what transpired.

An exerpt from your link:

Austin Deeds, who was 24, had undergone a psychiatric evaluation on Monday, but officials initially said he was not admitted to a hospital because no bed was available

It doesn't say if the evaluation was done by appointment or an emergency session the father, or even the son, requested. That facility would have a few beds, but not till evening.

The reason for this particular examination and what they told the psychiatrist and what he advised them is probaby the reason for the crime.

I spent over 2 hours in a waiting room yesterday at a doctor's office and was more tired than if I pulled weeds for 5 hours. The 2 other hospitals with beds were 2 hours away, and 2 hours drive back. Maybe the father was just too tired. I know I would have been. Tempers were lost.

Blaming someone for getting stabbed by his mentally ill son?
Of course factoring in that Deeds doesn't meet some imaginary purity standard helped, didn't it?
Think Deeds was the source of the "not enough beds" quote or was he recovering from stab wounds and mourning the loss of his son?
You can't imagine why someone would want to commit their sons two hours away from the family?

Disgusting. Disgusting. Disgusting.

x 100

Got that?

What's disgusting? I'm only sorry that I can't tell you what I think.

Use your imagination. and then add a lot more.

of health care in this country.

this really doesn't tell us much.

exactly WHO was it that said there were no beds? I just see the comment attributed to "officials"

And why the Virginia Tech mention in the story? HUGE apples and oranges difference between the two perpetrators involved...

Sadly, until the recent Democratic sweep, the GOP has been running the Commonwealth's government.