Looking for some info/guidance

[Yorkie Mom]

My 22 year old son experienced a psychotic break for the first time this week. They think he has/had a "brief psychotic disorder" caused by depression and anxiety. We were in the ER 3 times in two days. He finally admitted that he had thought about suicide and we were able to get him some help without his consent.

He was going to be taken to a mental hospital for evaluation 30-40 minutes away in a police car. We walked him to the car and watched him get in.

I just learned that my son was tased twice on the way to the hospital because the police said he was trying to kick his way out of the car. The report said they called for back up.

My son is traumatized, has bruises on his body, and the social worker said he was embarrassed. He is worried that this will affect his future.

I thought the back of a police car was safe. I thought my son was safe going to the hospital this way.

Is it even possible he could have busted out? (He wasn't cuffed when he got into the car.)

I'm still in shock an officer would use a taser on somebody not in their right mind, much less use it twice. At this point I feel lucky my child survived this.

I don't know what to do. How should I approach this with the police department or is there even any use?

[notinkansas]

2. I can only imagine the magnitude of the betrayal you must feel.

You trusted the police to bring your son to a safe place. Without harming him.

There is probably a means of filing a complaint regarding the officers' conduct.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

3. Just give your son all the support you can at this time.

It's crucial that he knows you're with him in spirit. The legal issues can be worked out later.

Officials at the hospital will tell you what you can and can't do. Many times, they have a web site that explains their visitation and mail policies. Just do an on-line search for that facility.

You can request a copy of the police report and it will tell you what happened in detail.

Best wishes and hugs to you and your son......

KY

[SheltieLover]

4. Agreed!

So sorry to hear this happened!

Focus on your son's well being first, then look into complaints, etc.

Amazingly, if this had occurred in a school setting, staff and faculty would deescalate without use of force.

[Yorkie Mom]

5. Thank you all!

My son does have to be the first priority, and I'll deal with what happened on the way to the hospital later.

I'm still shocked this happened.

[IbogaProject]

6. emphasize your unconditional love

Please emphasize your unconditional love (even if you have limits on what you can tolerate). Let him know that you will support him while he recovers. Hopefully it is just temporary, but some (~1.5%) are wired differently and our society seems to make it worse. Mentally stricken people in other societies hear playful voices, in the west they often hear scary voices.

Just let him know this can take some time for him to rediscover mental stability. The stresses the youth are under, its a wonder more don't snap.

Take care of your self. It's stressful to have to commit a family member, I helped when a friends sister had to do that with her son.

[hunter]

7. I was a mess at 22.

My brain went a little sideways with adolescence. I had a few psychotic episodes that were not "brief."

Near 40 years later I still don't trust the police to do anything right.

The last time I landed in a locked psych ward (which wasn't all that long ago) I didn't get a ride in the back of a police car.

Somehow I have a safety net of family and friends.

At my very worst I'm mostly a danger to myself, not others, but I'm really good at making people cry.

Nevertheless, I've managed to get this far. The future I landed in was much better than anything I could envision when I was 22.