opinion

Allhands: How to help someone with a mental illness in metro Phoenix

The man on the phone was clearly upset.

“Yeah, hello? I need some help,” he said. “Tempe police officers picked me up on Mill Avenue, and they used voodoo to change my skin color.”

He wanted someone at the newspaper to help him change it back.

“Tempe police used voodoo to change your skin color,” I repeated, unsure of how else to respond. “Do you have any proof?”

“Yeah,” said the man, who sounded to be in his 20s. He said he had pictures and put me on hold. When he returned, he said he needed to call the FBI. Then he said he was part of the FBI.

Uh huh.

At that point, I asked for his name and phone number, which he gave me. We hung up. And I felt terrible.

I'm pretty sure this guy was experiencing a mental break. And I did nothing to help him.

Why does mental help matter?

Nearly 44 million Americans experience mental illness each year, according to statistics compiled by the National Alliance on Mental Illness – roughly 1 in 5 adults. Yet treatment is sporadic: Nearly 60 percent of adults with mental illnesses receive no mental-health services in a given year.

Looking the other way can devastate families and drain society. NAMI reports that roughly 1 in 4 homeless adults living in a shelter have a serious mental illness, while roughly 1 in 4 state prisons have a mental health condition.

The organization also estimates that $193 billion in earnings are lost to serious mental illness each year.

What should I say to a stranger?

But what do you say if you think someone, particularly a stranger, needs help? Dr. Carol Olson, who heads the psychiatry department at Maricopa Integrated Health System, said reaching out is often the hardest part.

In my case, she suggested saying something like, “It sounds like you’re under a lot of stress. Would you be willing to talk to a behavioral-health professional about your situation?”

A similar question could work with someone saying crazy things at the gas station or talking to himself on the sidewalk. But use your discretion.

Detective Lily Duran, a Tempe police spokesperson, said to call 911 immediately if someone is threatening to hurt himself or others. Many police officers are trained to recognize mental illness and get them the services they need, she said.

You also should think twice about starting a conversation with an agitated stranger, Olson said. Call a local crisis line instead, and be sure to give them as much information as possible about the person's condition, including his physical description and location.

Who do I call to get someone help?

Several organizations in metro Phoenix help connect people with behavioral health services. Some offer services specifically for the homeless.

The easiest place to start is the county’s 24-7 behavioral health crisis line –​​​​​​​ 602-222-9444 or toll free at 800-631-1314 – which is operated by the non-profit Crisis Response Network. They can help assess the person’s situation and in some cases, even make a personal visit to evaluate him, Olson said.

What if he doesn't want help?

A person can be given help without his consent in Arizona if he is in imminent danger, Olson said, or in some cases if his mental state is affecting his physical or emotional well-being. He may be living in squalor, for instance, or unable to stay in his apartment because he’s convinced someone is spying on him.

But it’s hard for a layperson to make that decision. That’s why Olson suggests calling the crisis line for anyone who's not in imminent danger. (Remember, call 911 for folks who are endangering themselves or others.)

Oh, and be warned: It's possible nothing will be done, especially if the person isn’t hurting himself and doesn’t want help. But it’s worth taking the time to pass along your concerns to people with more expertise.

How it worked out for my caller

I called the man who claimed voodoo a few days later, armed with this new knowledge. Luckily, he sounded much more lucid on the phone. He remembered calling me.

I explained that I couldn’t find any information about his interaction with Tempe police (No lie: A records search found no previous contact with officers), but I knew how upset he was a few days ago and wondered if he’d like to speak with a professional about it.

He said no. He was fine. I reiterated that I wanted to make sure he was OK.

He was fine, he assured me.

So, no. There was no epiphany, not that I expected one. But he sounded stable. And I’m glad I called back.

Reach Allhands at joanna.allhands@arizonarepublic.com.

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