Mental Health. What a huge area to unpack. If you’re reading this, you either struggle with your own mental health, or you know someone who does. In all seriousness, everyone reading this has had experience with mental health challenges whether it is personally or through a family member or friend. While maintaining mental health can be challenging for those of us who are “healthy,” those of us who have been diagnosed with a mental health illness such as bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and more, may face even more challenges on a daily basis, especially in the criminal justice system.
Greenspun Shapiro has defended a countless number of cases where an individual is arrested after a family member simply called 911 for help transporting a loved one to an emergency room for psychiatric care.
The scenario is almost identical in every case:
- an individual’s mental health becomes unstable,
- a family or friend calls the police for assistance,
- the individual has an extreme emotional reaction or becomes frightened at the sight of the police or thought of going to the hospital,
- a criminal charge such as assault, resisting arrest, or eluding subsequently follows.
This is devastating not only for the individual who is already in a crisis state, but also for the family members who are so desperately trying to help.
If you find yourself in this situation, it is important to call an attorney at Greenspun Shapiro right away to ensure that your loved one’s mental and physical well-being is addressed immediately. Greenspun Shapiro is no stranger to this scenario and will take the necessary steps to collect medical records, assist in finding appropriate mental health treatment if necessary, and finally, communicate with the court or prosecutor to defend the criminal charges appropriately.
