Deeds stabbed father 1 day after he was sent to psych ward but sent away as there was no room.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2510018/Creigh-Deeds-Virginia-governor-candidate-stabbed-son-home.html ^

[sunmars]

Former Virginia governor candidate Creigh Deeds is fighting for his life after he was brutally stabbed by his own 24-year-old son, who then committed suicide - just one day after he was committed to a psychiatric ward.

Deeds, a state senator, is in critical condition at University of Virginia hospital after he was found in his home in rural Bath County. Deeds was stabbed multiple times in the head and torso and lost large amounts of blood.

The veteran Democratic state legislator's son Gus was found shot dead, as well.

Gus had been evaluated by psychiatrists at a mental hospital on Monday, but could not be committed because there were no beds available, according to reports.

[JennysCool]

We don’t have a gun problem, we have a mental health problem.

That's precisely right. But the Libs would rather it be a gun problem because (a) they can demonize an inanimate object to disarm their opposition and (b) mental health problems hit uncomfortably close to home.

[NEMDF]

What do you think he should have done? What would you have done, if it was your son?

[frithguild]

was not TRANSFERRED to another facility

It doesn't work like that. Each facility is insular.

[frithguild]

He shouldn’t have let him back in the house.<.i>

Where do you send a child who has lost touch with reality when there is no public assistance other than jail?

[pogo101]

I’m surprised at the insularity and at how common (per another commenter) it is for facilities to be full. This is a legitimate area for government involvement/ spending, even for libertarians: protecting the people from unlawful violence. Sad!

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

We truly need KNIFE control.

[frithguild]

You see that even a prominent person like Mr. Deeds can’t get real help for his family member

That says it all. A family member may be sub-acute, then subjected to a stressor that causes decompensation resulting in a psychotic episode. When it happens, there is NO PLACE TO TURN FOR HELP.

[Da Coyote]

This is indeed a very unfortunate incident.

However, if I read the article correctly, it appears that the lib father had a gun. Correct?

Why did he have one?

Did he in any way attempt to further gun control?

In any case, it is fortunate that he did possess a handgun, which he evidently used in an acceptable manner, given the situation.

[frithguild]

Very sad. When somebody is having an acute episode, as a family member, you cannot even get an appointment with a psychiatrist. The situations is too much of a hot potato for them. They will tell you that they can prescribe medication, which will day weeks to kick in. All this is true. The psychiatrist has only a down side to being involved in commitment proceedings. Temporary confinement, for all intents and purposed, can be accomplished only by the voluntary act of the mentally ill person, provided it can be paid for.

[Maudeen]

So does anyone know the root cause of all of this?

[mmichaels1970]

In any case, it is fortunate that he did possess a handgun, which he evidently used in an acceptable manner, given the situation.

Deeds (senator) didn't use the gun. Apparently his son used it to commit suicide.

[mmichaels1970]

So does anyone know the root cause of all of this?

I don't think so. However, it appears Deeds is able to communicate with hospital staff.

[USNBandit]

Can we not face the problem straight on because it is more difficult, because the left just wants to eliminate guns, or because people don't want to show compassion to the mentally ill?

A lot of these people have substance abuse histories. It doesn't really matter which one is the chicken and which is the egg. They definitely do worse when they are abusing drugs.

[oh8eleven]

just one day after he was committed to a psychiatric ward ... but could not be committed because there were no beds available
I guess he wasn't actually "committed" then was he?
Like the Seinfeld episode with the rental car. Made the reservation .. but they had no car.

[frithguild]

So does anyone know the root cause of all of this?

The root cause is nobody acknowledges that mental illness sometimes reaching a dangerous psychosis is a fact of life greater than a family alone can handle. It must at times be treated with involuntary commitment in a treatment facility and not the county lockup, which is our only option in this day and age.

[mmichaels1970]

I’m surprised at the insularity

It really wasn't in our case except when it comes to insurance. Of course, we went through an ER. But basically they had calls into a couple facilities that accepted the insurance.

From what I've read, the son probably should have gone to the ER straight-away if no beds were available.

Also, during this process, one of the FIRST things they ask is whether there are guns or other weapons in the house that are accessible. All politics aside, it's actually pretty surprising that he had a gun in the house after his son was sent home.

[jonrick46]

In this case, gun control would have had done little. The son, Gus, stabbed with a knife. If there was no gun he could have used a little rope, kicked out the chair and hung himself. OK, maybe we need a little rope control. And, don’t forget the chairs.

[Jane Long]

Good gosh...really? It’s his son. And, how do you know he “let him back in the house”? Maybe the son let himself in.

[HiTech RedNeck]

A jail is better than nothing sometimes, but yes it is sad that there can’t be better.

And this at a time when more and more people are going mad. Drugs. Lies. (Yes, lies drive some people mad.)

[HiTech RedNeck]

Also I don’t know if his dad was of means. If poor, a county facility would be all that could avail. But if of means, then there is no shortage of private places. There could be some bad blood here. Or it could merely be a tragic, awkward situation. Just sayin’ and that would be very much dependent upon things that are not obvious here.