I visited your fair city a week ago. Why? My son, an adult homeless man with severe mental health issues, drove his truck into a wall in Camas at dangerously high speeds. He was allowed to leave the hospital, and left without a place to live (his home was his truck).
Even if this wasn’t a suicide attempt, it is obvious to me that my son is a danger to himself or others, and needed hospitalization. After traveling from California, I thought it prudent to call in a missing person’s report, considering his injuries and mental health issues. When I asked the Vancouver and Washougal police for help, they said that when they contacted my son he said he was fine, and that was all they could do.
How is any of this fine? When a homeless, mentally ill person attacks someone or causes harm, the one thing that is repeated is, “Why didn’t the family get him or her help?” I’m writing to say, that is never an easy topic to get the help needed, and this state seems to not care. He’s now in the hospital, and on a 14-day hold, but that’s not enough! What help does a mother get, when she’s trying to save her child’s life?
