Help! How to protect someone from a mentally ill adult relative?

Question

I have a step-brother who is schizophrenic. He's been committed to a mental institution 2 times I think after showing that he's a danger to himself, but he'd never shown any signs of being dangerous to others.

A couple weeks ago, he attacked my dad. He was hitting and pushing him and venting an amazing amount of rage on my dad. My stepbrother is bigger and stronger than my dad, and he threatened to come back and kill my dad. He was arrested that night, and released the next morning because my dad and stepmom didn't want to press charges against him. They're still worried that he might try to hurt my dad though, and since my stepbrother is 21, he can check himself out of a mental institution anytime he feels ready. That's how it is in California, anyway. When he takes his meds he's fine, but then he thinks he's better, so he stops taking them. Each time he stops taking them, his episodes get more violent and scary.

Any ideas on how they can protect themselves?

Answer 1

You need to call the police and have him arrested for attacking your Dad.  I know its not a pleasant thing to do, but the criminal law protects you more than the civil law.  I don't know about California, but in most states violent mentally ill offenders can be committed for quite a long time.

Answer 2

Your parents need to go to court and gain right over his medical decisions.  Your parents have to show that he is incapable of making the best medical decision's for himself. That way there he cannot check himself out of psych wards, and your parents can put him in there without his consent. They need to get a heavy duty lock on there door for while they sleep. Lock up all the knifes and guns in a heavy duty tool box, so he can't hurt your parents that way. And search his room often so they can see that he doesn't have any violent weapons. That way there if he ever goes over the edge he only has his physical body to do harm with. And as soon as he starts getting violent call the cops. Do not hesitate to do so. If you guys aren't going to a family counselor i suggest you guys do so. That way there you guys can learn some tools and ways to deal with your brother. Best of luck and i hope that you guys are able to get this situation under control.

Answer 3

a schizophrenic off their meds can potentially be dangerous, as you have seen. if you can, try to convince him to keep tacking his meds. if he does not, be careful. he will never get better. only control is through meds.