By STEPHANIE
BEECKEN
6 News Reporter
KNOXVILLE
(WATE) - A Knoxville family has a better idea of where one of their loved one is,
but their struggle to get help for him continues.
D'Andre Whitfield was found safe Monday night at a Nashville
homeless shelter. The 22-year-old suffers from paranoid schizophrenia.
His
family had been searching for him since he went missing last Wednesday. But even
though he's been found, hurdles remain when it comes to bringing Whitfield
home.
Whitfield's
mother wants him to come home and to continue taking his medication. But she's
finding out that because he's an adult she can't force him get the mental
treatment he needs.
The president of the Knoxville Chapter of the National
Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) says there are resources available to assist
families.
Since
February 5, Serena Holloway has been searching for her son. She's been worried
sick about his safety. Even though investigators found Whitfield unharmed in
Nashville, she's still concerned.
"I
am glad that God kept him and he is safe at the homeless shelter. My spirit is
not going to rest until I hear his voice and I see him ‘cause I need to see my
son," said Holloway.
Holloway says finding help for Whitfield has been hard because he's an adult. She wants
her son to come home and get back on his medication, but can't force him.
Holloway
says she just wants her son to get better.
"You
know, he has a mental illness and if he does hurt somebody and he doesn't hurt
himself, then he'll go to jail for the rest of his life, but we are trying to
prevent that," said Holloway.
But
president of NAMI Logan Black says there are steps people can take if their
loved one is threatening to hurt themselves or others or if the illness has
intensified to an uncontrollable level.
"They
can call the local police department. They can ask for a CIT trained officer
which is crisis intervention training," said Black.
The
officers are trained to work with the mentally ill and will do safety
checks.
"The
police can go and take them to the emergency room. The doctor can then contact
one of the local psychiatric hospitals," said Black.
The
doctor could require the patient to get treatment. In an escalated situation,
people can also call mobile crisis which will drive to the person's location and
assess the illness, referring them for in-patient treatment if
needed.
Also,
after a person is hospitalized they may qualify for case management where a
medical profession will make sure the medication is being taken twice
daily.
Black
says crisis stabilization units are also available which will treat a person for
three days and get them back on their medication, but the patient must
agree.
Often
only if the person is a danger or if the illness is extreme will medication and
treatment be required.
NAMI
offers support groups and classes for those with a mental illness and their
families. NAMI also will help people find resources for treatment and therapy.
All the NAMI services are free.
More information on NAMI is available by calling (865) 602-7807 or visiting their website.
he has a mental illness and if he does hurt somebody and he doesn't hurt himself, then he'll go to jail for the rest of his life, but we are trying to prevent that," said D'Andre's mother Serena Holloway.
