Neighbor with paranoid schizophrenia

[MacDaddy77]

We have a neighbor who has guardianship over an adult with paranoid schizophrenia. We have lived here for 5 years and have dealt with a lot of police calls to the house. Finally last week the police came with guns drawn because he was chasing around another individual (also mentally challenged) with a knife. I thought he wouldn't be back after this however I was wrong.

This is a cul de sac with a lot of kids and I am wondering if there is any avenue we can use to have this neighbor removed from the care he is under and placed in the proper care with full time supervision (the guardian works and golfs all the time and is hardly ever around)

I know it's not the fault of the neighbor they have this condition however we and other people on the street don't feel safe to have our kids playing when he's around in case he has an episode.

Any advice or suggestions on where to take this from here would be appreciated. I have already tried speaking to the guardian and his response is always that he will be alright. (He obviously needs 24/7 care and supervision)

Thanks

[Dion]

If he's had episodes in the past i'd be asking if said person is taking meds on a daily basis. Going off medication can trigger an episode.

You could talk to someone from AHS and explain your situation and maybe they could give you some advice.

[MacDaddy77]

Yes he's on daily medication and from what I gather because if the severity he is supposed to have constant supervision

[Ducay]

Ya, lets lock all the mentals up, amirite?

I totally get the situation sucks, but think how much worse it is for that family. They have to live somewhere afterall.

"Hi, AHS, yes, I would like to have my neighbour committed. Yes I know AHS and CPS have been involved for years and there is likely a medical and social caseworker dealing with him, but gosh darn it, I'm his neighbour and the internet agreed with me."

[Kjesse]

It sucks this person has this problem, but its a bigger issue for the community at large when he starts acting out with weapons. You need to make this an issue with the authorities, it could prevent a death or a serious injury.

I'd probably start by making contact with the CPS office in your district and ask to speak to someone in charge, and then make a formal complaint. I'd also contact in writing both my MLA and my MP, and provide them a copy of your written complaint, and ask them to monitor the situation as people could be at risk.

They might not be able to let you know what the reasons were for him not being charged... but if he's chasing someone with a knife.... and is mentally ill... its still a crime but he might end up being "not criminally responsible" --but at least assigned to a hospital where he is monitored properly. Also, he may have been charged criminally and now is going through the system, but was given bail. Too many possibilities to count them.

This is very serious, all the best. Who decided he could be back in the community? I'd be asking lots of questions and writing letters to make a paper trail.

There is probably a department in AHS to deal with this, I'd also try to find out who that is and make contact with them.

[MacDaddy77]

Ducay,

I've read lots of idiotic posts by you but this one takes the cake.

If he's fit to be in a house unsupervised them absolutely keep doing it as I mentioned we have lived beside him for 5 years now.

Are you saying that you don't feel I have a right to
Be concerned about the safety of my family living beside a severely diagnosed individual that is not getting the care I believe they need.

Your holier than thou attitude is quite frankly very annoying and you have contributed nothing to the questions I have asked out of my concern and instead once again have tried to engage someone in a pissing match

I am not saying to "lock all the mental a up". I am asking if there is a place to have my concerns known the the appropriate authorities.

If you have nothing usefully to add please STFU

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by MacDaddy77

Are you saying that you don't feel I have a right to Be concerned about the safety of my family living beside a severely diagnosed individual that is not getting the care I believe they need.

Of course you have a right to be concerned, but the person has to live next door to someone, sadly, the roulette table landed on your square. Do you think the CPS who responded to the knife call are not aware of the knife incident?

These people (and yes, they are people just like you and me) are often fine for months/years at a time and can have the occasional outburst if something triggers it. They should be locked up forever on the offchance something happens?

Again, there are already a plethora of people involved in this person's life (CPS, Counsellors, therapists, MDs, etc, etc). They have assessed the situation I would bet, thousands of times, and deemed them safe and appropriate to be at home in his family's care. You have roughly 0.000004% insight into the situation.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Ya, lets lock all the mentals up, amirite?

I totally get the situation sucks, but think how much worse it is for that family. They have to live somewhere afterall.

"Hi, AHS, yes, I would like to have my neighbour committed. Yes I know AHS and CPS have been involved for years and there is likely a medical and social caseworker dealing with him, but gosh darn it, I'm his neighbour and the internet agreed with me."

No where did he say anything about having someone comitted. He expressed some genuine concerns that I would have also. Someone who goes after another with a knife should raise some eyebrows and alot of concern. That and the police showing on numerious occasions are also reasons to be concerned. Something doesn't seem right with the story the caregiver gave him.

If said person poses a risk to the rest of the community then the terms of his gaurdianship need to be addressed and looked at.

Yes the mentally ill should have rights but it also needs to looked at with public safety being a consideration.

[Ducay]

Again, I do not disagree with any of those statements. But this person's condition, outbursts, incidents, and otherwise, are all clearly known and documented. The vast array of support he/she has, again, has determined that despite the incidents, the best place for them is at home. Who are you to say they shouldn't.

But yes, express your concerns to AHS, CPS, whatever, but understand there are dozens of people already more involved than you, and far better educated on the subject. You will not be telling CPS or AHS anything they don't already know.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Of course you have a right to be concerned, but the person has to live next door to someone, sadly, the roulette table landed on your square. Do you think the CPS who responded to the knife call are not aware of the knife incident?

These people (and yes, they are people just like you and me) are often fine for months/years at a time and can have the occasional outburst if something triggers it. They should be locked up forever on the offchance something happens?

Again, there are already a plethora of people involved in this person's life (CPS, Counsellors, therapists, MDs, etc, etc). They have assessed the situation I would bet, thousands of times, and deemed them safe and appropriate to be at home in his family's care. You have roughly 0.000004% insight into the situation.

Paranoid schizophrenics having a relapse is not a good thing. If he kills someone are you going to say "Oh well, he had a relapse?" His medication and the continued relapses need to be addressed by the medical community.

You also make the assumption his illness has been addressed and he was deemed safe. How do we know he's taking his meds everyday? Should we trust the word of the caregiver? Based on repeated police calls I'd say no.

He shouldn't be having relapses and the public has a right to be concerned.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Dion

Paranoid schizophrenics having a relapse is not a good thing. If he kills someone are you going to say "Oh well, he had a relapse?" His medication and the continued relapses need to be addressed by the medical community.

You also make the assumption his illness has been addressed and he was deemed safe. How do we know he's taking his meds everyday? Should we trust the word of the caregiver? Based on repeated police calls I'd say no.

He shouldn't be having relapses and the public has a right to be concerned.

Again, agree with you on the fact one should be able to feel safe at home. By all means, call AHS. You don't think the police or social workers looked into their care situation when there is an attempted attack with a weapon? You think CPS arrives on scene of a knife attack and was like "Oh, just a tard being themselves, put 'em back in the house, and this time lock the doors 'mam".

[MacDaddy77]

That's why I'm asking. Maybe these authorities aren't aware of the mental and emotional strain having this gentlemen in the neighborhood is causing and where the appropriate place to make those concerns heard

. I am all for integrating mentally challenged individuals into as normal a society as we can (my grandmother ran a supervised group home for this reason specifically) however certain individuals need full time care and shouldn't be unsupervised for 5 minutes let alone a full day

Delgar, thanks for the post I'll take your suggestions and act on them tomorrow. I had already planned on calling CPS and AHS however writing my MLA and MP wasn't something I thought about in this case

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by MacDaddy77

That's why I'm asking. Maybe these authorities aren't aware of the mental and emotional strain having this gentlemen in the neighborhood is causing and where the appropriate place to make those concerns heard

Poor you, having to be strained because of this guy. Oh hey, think about the sheer hell the family is going through. Have a heart.

Originally Posted by MacDaddy77

I am all for integrating mentally challenged individuals into as normal a society as we can (my grandmother ran a supervised group home for this reason specifically) however certain individuals need full time care and shouldn't be unsupervised for 5 minutes let alone a full day

Not even going to touch this one with a 10ft pole, or 10ft ball and chain this guy should be locked up to!

Originally Posted by MacDaddy77

Delgar, thanks for the post I'll take your suggestions and act on them tomorrow. I had already planned on calling CPS and AHS however writing my MLA and MP wasn't something I thought about in this case

Haha, call your MLA, call your MP, let them know there are people with mental disabilities (yes, disabled people!) living in your community. They'll be outraged.

While you're at it, call the queen.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Again, agree with you on the fact one should be able to feel safe at home. By all means, call AHS. You don't think the police or social workers looked into their care situation when there is an attempted attack with a weapon? You think CPS arrives on scene of a knife attack and was like "Oh, just a tard being themselves, put 'em back in the house, and this time lock the doors 'mam".

You are impossible to reason with. I had a friend way back in HS who was a paranoid schizophrenic and have a good understanding of this illness. Don't be throwing statements like this this out "Oh, just a tard being themselves, put 'em back in the house, and this time lock the doors 'mam" and expect anyone to take you serious.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Poor you, having to be strained because of this guy. Oh hey, think about the sheer hell the family is going through. Have a heart.



Not even going to touch this one with a 10ft pole, or 10ft ball and chain this guy should be locked up to!



Haha, call your MLA, call your MP, let them know there are people with mental disabilities (yes, disabled people!) living in your community. They'll be outraged.

While you're at it, call the queen.

Stop being an #######!

[Ducay]

Anyways, I've made my point, not going to continue repeating myself. Clearly you guys do not have any experience dealing with people with mental disabilities. Goes to show the stigma and ongoing lack of education across society about these types of disabilities.

I look forward to hearing what the Lieutenant-Governor had to say about getting them relocated, though.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Anyways, I've made my point, not going to continue repeating myself. Clearly you guys do not have any experience dealing with people with mental disabilities. Goes to show the stigma and ongoing lack of education across society about these types of disabilities.

I look forward to hearing what the Lieutenant-Governor had to say about getting them relocated, though.

The part about going to AHS and CPS is to get some answers so peole can feel safe. It's not about, as you have suggested, having them locked up or taken away from their caregiver. Your lack of understanding in what people post is astounding.

[jayswin]

Something's not adding up. Police don't go to a call that involves a knife attack and go "Oh it was schizophrenia, he's good. See you later".

I'd agree with Ducay, with my dealings of someone with this specific mental illness, if you know AHS and police are involved, they'll be ten steps ahead of what you're trying to accomplish and have already made many decisions on his specific case.

There isn't going to be a call you make that leads to "Oh, the police are aware of the situation, as is AHS, but based on what you've just said, we'll get them the hell out of there for you".

[Plett25]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Clearly you guys do not have any experience dealing with people with mental disabilities. Goes to show the stigma and ongoing lack of education across society about these types of disabilities.

I'm sure that the Canadian Mental Health Association appreciates your attempt to enlighten Canadians through obnoxious internet posts.

[MacDaddy77]

Up to this point We have just gone about our lives and let him also. I thought this last episode he wouldn't be returned to the house

We haven't made a call to make our concerns known and documented until now but it's time for that step