Recently, on July 13 a family member was incarcerated at the Snohomish County Jail. This was for a fourth-degree assault charge.
He has a severe mental illness for which he is being treated. This consists of talk therapy and strong anti-psychotic medications.
While confined in jail for over 72 hours, he was given no medications. He hears voices and sees people when not medicated. This is similar to the movie “A Beautiful Mind.” Make no mistake, there is very little beautiful about this illness.
I phoned several times on his behalf, offering to bring his prescriptions. I received no calls from the medical staff. I realize the staff is busy and overworked, but something needs to be corrected in these matters.
To add to an already unstable situation, my dear family member was released at 2:30 in the morning. Buses don’t run at this time, and he does not drive, so he had to walk home miles in the dark.
Our country needs solutions to the problems of the mentally ill, not the lack of awareness and funding that currently exists.
Leslie Crofoot
Everett
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