AN ALTERNATIVE ENDING TO MENTAL-HEALTH TRAGEDY
Marcia M. MathesTHE ORLANDO SENTINEL
The tragic story of the Zirakian family and the great tragedy of Vincent Zirakian's life are a case study of what is wrong with the way our society treats mental illness.
Vincent Zirakian was a 69-year-old man killed by police in Deltona after a daylong standoff last month. Zirakian was described by neighbors as a nuisance and by family members as mentally ill.
From the onset of his illness to the violent death at the hands of authority, his is a story of ignorance and stigma. This tale of societal neglect and abuse is an oft-told tale. We who advocate for the mentally ill can tell myriad such stories.
The brain disorders that are called mental illness are eminently treatable. The reasons that they are so often not treated are many and diffuse. A primary problem is too few resources for the ill and their families. The lack of treatment facilities and access to effective medication is directly related to underfunding by our Legislature. A further complication is that lack of insight (of one's condition) is a feature of many brain disorders. The criminalization of mental illness adds yet another layer to this teetering pile. When the many factors finally build to intolerable stress, we have another story in the newspaper. We have another name to add to the growing list of ill people who have been killed by the police.
Even in the dismal climate of mental-health care in Florida, the Zirakians' story could have had a better outcome. The first step would have been for specially trained crisis-intervention officers to be in control of the scene of the standoff. Nearly all of Orange County's law-enforcement agencies now have crisis-intervention teams. The Seminole County Sheriff's Office has crisis-intervention officers as well. The statistics show a good outcome for all calls that these crisis-intervention officers have been involved in. These officers have been given skills and knowledge necessary for anyone dealing with a person in crisis. My heart goes out to the officers who found themselves in a situation in which they were at risk and felt they had no option but to shoot this poor soul.
The need for Baker Act reform sounds a clarion call throughout this story. If Vincent Zirakian could have been ordered by the court to seek treatment, and if there had been funds to pay for that treatment, he most assuredly would have avoided the fatal showdown. The essential element here is funding. Without adequate funding, a Baker Act reform would be meaningless, at best, or drain funds from programs already stressed to the max, as a worst-case scenario.
If I could rewrite this scenario, here is what I would do:
Vincent Zirakian first shows signs of paranoia and depression, so his family takes him to their local mental-health-care facility. The professionals at the facility diagnose him; they prescribe effective medication; they educate him and his family about his illness; and they provide appropriate after-care and support. Zirakian now knows he has a physical illness that affects his brain.
The education he and his family receive enables them to maintain a regimen that ensures his continuing well-being. Zirakian advances through his company, a valued employee. He and his wife have a long and happy marriage. Their children grow up in a loving, two-parent home.
Mr. and Mrs. Zirakian retire to Florida, where they continue to avail themselves of the services of an excellent community mental-health-care facility.
Zirakian is recognized in his community as a kind and loving man and a good neighbor.
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