(Apr. 14, 2015) Cynthia and Anthony Hernandez are left picking up the pieces of their family life while their 19-year-old son, Aaron, suffers in jail (“The nightmare outcome of a son’s mental illness,” the Los Angeles Times, April 13).
Diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, Aaron had been in and out of psychiatric hospitals for years. But each time he was hospitalized the treatment was only temporary - lasting a few days or several weeks at the most.
“I felt that one day I would come home and find him dead in the house or that he would hurt somebody in the family," Cynthia said. "We always felt that. We lived with that every day."
Cynthia sought help from doctors, law enforcement and legal institutions but became frustrated by “the piecemeal and often impenetrable nature of the state's mental health system.”
Last September, Aaron’s behavior began to spiral out of control again and he violently attacked both of his parents.
Like many others with a psychiatric disease who end up in jail, Aaron’s mental illness remained untreated during his first few weeks behind bars. He sent “sent rambling letters with drawings of heroes and monsters” to his parents who visited him several times a week.
Aaron has been in jail for several months now and is finally on medication. With treatment, his communication has become more coherent, his parents told the Los Angeles Times. “He began to write about feeling remorse.”
Lawmakers are highlighting this tragedy as another reason why California needs widespread implementation of Laura’s Law.
“People whose mental illness goes untreated often end up incarcerated,” said state Assemblywoman Susan Eggman, who wants to expand Laura’s Law into every county. "We see [Laura’s Law] as a way of potentially increasing people's freedoms."
Diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, Aaron had been in and out of psychiatric hospitals for years. But each time he was hospitalized the treatment was only temporary - lasting a few days or several weeks at the most. “I felt that one day I would come home and find him dead in the house or that he would hurt somebody in the family," Cynthia said. "We always felt that. We lived with that every day."
Cynthia sought help from doctors, law enforcement and legal institutions but became frustrated by “the piecemeal and often impenetrable nature of the state's mental health system.”
Last September, Aaron’s behavior began to spiral out of control again and he violently attacked both of his parents.
Like many others with a psychiatric disease who end up in jail, Aaron’s mental illness remained untreated during his first few weeks behind bars. He sent “sent rambling letters with drawings of heroes and monsters” to his parents who visited him several times a week.
Aaron has been in jail for several months now and is finally on medication. With treatment, his communication has become more coherent, his parents told the Los Angeles Times. “He began to write about feeling remorse.”
Lawmakers are highlighting this tragedy as another reason why California needs widespread implementation of Laura’s Law.
“People whose mental illness goes untreated often end up incarcerated,” said state Assemblywoman Susan Eggman, who wants to expand Laura’s Law into every county. "We see [Laura’s Law] as a way of potentially increasing people's freedoms."