Reader J.M. has an adult stepson who has been receiving treatment for schizophrenia for more than 20 years, including several hospital stays. J.M. says that his stepson has tried various support groups over the years to regain some semblance of normal life, and his stepson is losing faith in his doctor and the medical system.
Things took a more serious turn recently when his stepson tried to attack J.M., who then had to call the police. Although this stopped the fight, J.M. is now very concerned about the safety of his family. He writes:
We are getting locks installed on the bedroom doors. We have hidden the knives. We live in fear. The doctor and schizophrenic texts agree that once the violence starts there will be further bouts of it. The doctor says there have been cases where the patient's family and the doctor agree that the patient needs to be hospitalized and the police take the patient to hospital. When I asked the police, they refused.