Seeking Help and Getting Handcuffed

When someone experiences a mental health crisis, they are often met by police officers. The person is handcuffed and taken to a hospital, where the doors are locked and medication is forced on them. Patients leave traumatized, saying they are reluctant to seek psychiatric help in the future. This is the crisis state of North Carolina’s behavioral health system, which relies heavily on law enforcement, emergency rooms and involuntary commitments. In this series, we report some of the reasons behind the rise of involuntary commitment petitions in North Carolina and how it impacts patients seeking help.

What happens when you take someone in a mental health crisis to the E.R.?

Editor’s note: This article references self harm and suicide. Please use caution when reading. There are several mental health support resources listed at the end of this article. By Taylor Knopf When a loved one is experiencing a mental health crisis, families often go to their local emergency room for help. This can set off…

by Taylor Knopf September 8, 2023September 7, 2023

NC psych hospital failed to provide ‘safe and therapeutic’ environment, feds say

After a NC Health News/ News & Observer/ Charlotte Observer report of alleged mistreatment and sexual assault of an 11-year-old patient, Brynn Marr Hospital has been under months of state and federal scrutiny, jeopardizing its federal insurance reimbursement.

by Taylor Knopf May 10, 2023May 22, 2023

Durham 11-year-old was sexually assaulted in NC psychiatric hospital, parents allege

A young girl at risk for suicide was sent to a hospital that was supposed to help her, instead her parents say she was hurt further by the mental health system. Now they’re pushing for reform.

by Taylor Knopf November 30, 2022November 30, 2022

Big changes are needed to turn the tide of North Carolina’s mental health crisis, health leaders say

For North Carolinians to have affordable access to readily available mental health services, health leaders say a cascade of changes need to take place from Medicaid expansion to higher reimbursement rates for providers.

by Taylor Knopf August 23, 2022January 10, 2023

New mental health data show ‘unsustainable’ burden on NC hospitals

Rising mental health-related emergency room visits, more involuntary commitments and longer wait times for psychiatric hospital beds are symptoms of much larger problems within the state’s mental health system, health experts say.

by Taylor Knopf August 22, 2022August 22, 2022

Sheriffs want to turn transport of psych patients over to mental health workers

Patients under involuntary commitment orders describe being traumatized by law enforcement involvement in mental health care, which often comes with handcuffs and added stigma.

by Taylor Knopf May 23, 2022July 27, 2023

‘Behavioral health emergency’: NC health organizations ask state leaders for help

The heightened demand for behavioral health services due to the COVID-19 pandemic is crashing down on North Carolina’s already fractured mental health system. Hospitals and health leaders are calling for emergency help.

by Taylor Knopf June 25, 2021November 15, 2022

Health Care Half Hour: Mental health and the overuse of involuntary commitments in North Carolina – June 17, 2021

by Editor June 17, 2021March 28, 2022

State lawmakers seek non-police, community interventions to mental health crises

As more mental health patients find themselves handcuffed in a police car headed to a psychiatric hospital, a bipartisan group of lawmakers filed a package of bills that would offer community-based alternatives for people in mental health crisis.

by Taylor Knopf May 18, 2021November 15, 2022

Despite pitfalls, counties leave psych patient transport in sheriffs’ hands

When given the chance to rethink police involvement in responding to people in mental health crisis, most counties maintained the status quo. This is the third part in an occasional series examining the consequences of North Carolina’s increased use of forced psychiatric treatment.

by Taylor Knopf March 23, 2021November 15, 2022

NC didn’t track the data on mental health commitments, so some advocates did it instead.

Advocates found the state had a big problem, but because no one was counting, no one was aware of how many psychiatric patients were being treated against their will. This is the second story in a series about how more people in mental health crisis end up involuntarily committed for treatment and why that’s a problem.

by Taylor Knopf December 21, 2020November 15, 2022

More NC psych patients are ending up handcuffed in a police car. Why?

North Carolina’s use of involuntary commitment for mental health patients increased by 91 percent over a decade. This is the first in an occasional series of stories where we’ll explore what factors are contributing to this rise and what it means for patients.

by Taylor Knopf December 14, 2020November 15, 2022