How does one get the mental help processes going...my son is in salina county jail in kansas....he is under suicide watch and wont keep his clothes on....they have in an all glass cage for the world to see....he is pounding his fist on the cement...this information comes to me from his girlfriend who is also incarcerated there....she says the guards think he's doing this so he can get out of his trouble....I've called his attorney 3 times requesting an urgent response....he has a long list of mental health issues that go all the way back to 4th grade....also i told the attorney's office that he can even call me collect and still no response....I did talk to my son on the 9th and he was teary but sounded like he had some spirit in him

I have no sound advise to give. All I can say is I sympathize. My heart and my prayers go out to you and your loved ones.

Wow, well as his mother they better let u get him some help. And how is his gf in the same jail> diff. areas im assuming but yea thats BS. I mean if hes taking his clothes off, on sucide watch, etc he needs some help or at least attention from someone to see whats wrong, and they should let u step in. They obviously dont know what there doing. Hopefully he gets help and is doin better and not in some glass cade, ridiclous. good luck. Pray, everything will hopefully turn out ok. ktc

Try this Samiam-
vMain Contact Information:
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National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
Colonial Place Three
2107 Wilson Blvd., Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22201-3042
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Main: (703) 524-7600
Fax: (703) 524-9094
TDD: (703) 516-7227
Member Services: (888) 999-NAMI

thanks valerie---ktc... right now chris is ok..he made it through the cycle without too much trama..hopefully buy the time the next one comes up he'll be in a place where they will listen...but he's ok now...his lawyer needed things and i had to get them to him..but calls every where didn't get him his meds...still trying to get the state to approve a session with psych...

Good luck to you Christine, I'm glad Chris is OK at least for now and I hope he can get his meds soon. This must be so hard for the both of you and it's so sad.

Stay on the phone to mental health, even if its on a daily basis, they have forensic people that go into the prisons and visit, set up video conferencing if they have to, and he can sign a freedom of information, so that you can be involved with what is happening. Your son should be moved out of corrections, and put into a mental health ward as a involuntary patient for his own health. The prison always promises that they will get the help, but it takes a concerned and firm mother to do it. Dont give up hope, ring all the advocacy groups in your area, get them to write letters, give you advice, dont be afraid to use them, thats what they are there for. All the best. I went through something similar with my husband, he was put in jail with a undiagnosed mental illness, I fought the system as hard as I could, that I ended up studying mental health full time. Suicide watch isnt the answer, and your son has a sickness, and shouldnt be put in front of glass as a joke to prison staff. As a diabetic needs to take insulin, a person with a mental illness needs medicine. Denying your son of this is a violation of his rights on its own.
Good Luck.

my son also has mental illness and is not being treated. he is in isolation which is the worse thing you can do to a mentally ill person. i myself have started a petition in Nebraska requesting he be taken out of isolation due to his mental illness. he is not being treated because in nebraska if you are in isolation you cannot participate in mental health or its programs.i really feel for samiam158 i wish there was something i could do or say to make it easier but the only thing i can say is don't give up there is help out thre somewhere seek and you shall find. i know it is difficult but there has to be a answer somewhere. i will never give up and if you would like pm me and maybe we can work on things together. my son is serving 24-36 years for criminal mischief he has never hurt a soul other than himself. he made a public suicide note on tv and the news paper and still was not put on suicide watch. he is coping now because i promised him i would not give up. i would like to request anyone that knows a psychiatrist in any state to see if they can get them to write a letter stating what long term isolation does to a person examples: sensory deprivation, lack of exercise, lack of human contact. being a nurse for 18 years i have seen the effects. i feel maybe with the petition to take him out and letters from psychiatrists all over the country. maybe i can get the governor from here to look into it and get him out. please if you know of any Dr.'s that may do this i cangive you his name etc. i love him and will not give up. i only want him to be safe and he will not be until he is out of isolation.samiam158 my prayers are with you.

Mother, also start a petition online, or if you have, what is the address, I would sign it for sure. You didnt state what kind of mental illness your son has? Is it a diagnosed mental illness? You are definately right though, a person with a mental illness doesnt derserve to be isolated. The mental health system has failed again. I have a degree in Forensic Mental Health. PM me if you want to talk. I fought the system exactly the same way as you mentioned over my husband, that suffered schizophrenia. It was strange, I knew about it, but I had to fight the same system I learned about AND it was hard, but now I REALLY know about it.

my son is okay as of now...in a better place ....low keyed...i know what people are saying..but it is so hard to get mental health help...my heart bleeds....what is a parent/person to do....i have children still at home and chris did choose his own path ..as far as i can see....i have done my best ...and wil continue to try...but sometimes .....i am sooooo tired...