‘Families have absolutely no say’: Mother speaks on son’s mental health struggles
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) - A Tri-State mom is sharing what it’s like to be the parent of someone with mental illness.
47-year-old Adam English was arrested after police say he started a fire at inside his home.
Adam’s mother Bridget Murray spoke about how the last 20 years have been a struggle.
“You just sit and wait until something happens that gets the attention of police, and you just hope and pray that it’s nothing that’s going to hurt someone,” said Murray.
Murray has learned a lot in two decades.
“Probably two years before there were signs, but I had never dealt with any kind of mental illness,” said Bridget. “So, I did not know what those signs were.”
In 2004, she says her son, Adam English, was diagnosed with schizophrenia. It’s a disease that usually shows up in late teens to early 30′s.
Adam was diagnosed with another condition, where he won’t take oral medication. He would, however, comply with taking an injectable medicine.
“The first time that he got that, it was absolutely amazing. It took away all of his symptoms,” said Bridget.
The key to keep Adam on the medicine was a court commitment.
“The minute the court order is dropped, he doesn’t go back and get his injection,” she said.
Adam is charged with arson after police say he set fire to his home last week on South Kerth Avenue. They say he was hallucinating.
“Some of the things he works up in his head are just very frightening,” Bridget said.
Bridget says she knew something would happen, after the last court order expired.
“They said with his history, there’s just no way this is not going to not be renewed. Well, I got a call in January that it was not renewed,” Bridget said.
She believes her son needs long term hospitalization and hopes that’s what will happen when he’s sentenced.
“To me that’s the best outcome because he’s not going to get any better,” she said.
Bridget says there are great resources in Evansville, but there is still a long way to go.
“Our mental health system is a mess, and our laws have swung too far the other way, because families absolutely have no say.”
Adam has been hospitalized nine times. His mom says when he’s doing well, judges won’t sign court order renewals, which only starts the cycle over.
“Being able to get that in place is wonderful, but then if you are fighting the system to keep it in place, he loses, and he’s been the loser in the whole situation.”
The Alliance on Mental Health has been a support for Bridget.
She says there are groups for people struggling with mental health, as well as groups for their families.
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