A Schizophrenic, a Slain Worker, Troubling Questions

BOSTON — Last November, Yvette Chappell found herself increasingly anxious that her 27-year-old son, Deshawn James Chappell, was spiraling downward into deep psychosis. He was exhibiting intense paranoia and calling late at night to complain about deafening voices in his head.

For over a year, Mr. Chappell, a schizophrenic with a violent criminal record, had seemed relatively stable in a state-financed group home in Charlestown. But after a fight with another resident, Mr. Chappell was shuttled from home to home, and his mother believed that he had fallen off his medication along the way.

Ms. Chappell said she had tried to communicate this concern to his caretakers, but it was not until mid-January that she found somebody who listened.

The woman introduced herself as Stephanie and said she would be Mr. Chappell’s counselor at his new group home in Revere. She confirmed that Mr. Chappell had stopped getting his antipsychotic injections but made his mother a promise: “She said: ‘Don’t worry. I’m going to get Deshawn back on track.’

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/17/us/17MENTAL.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha2

My heart breaks for all of them.

I have faced trying to get help for a loved one with mental health professionals in short supply.

for evaluation, which would include either a change in dosage or a change in medication, & kept there until it was safe for him to return to the group home.

Why wasn't this done? Cuts to mental healthcare, which was why Stephanie was left on her own during her shift.

In reality, much more long-term hospitilization is needed for schizophrenics but no one seems to get the cause & effect of mental illness. When tragedies like this occur, it's viewed in a narrow-minded black & white way. He killed her & he must pay!

It's not that simple. Questions should be asked by those who hold the government purse strings, like why was this patient off his medication? Why was a case worker left on her own without assistance or security during her shift? What should be done to prevent this type of tragedy? What can be learned from the mental health care professionals to better regulate patients to protect society?