Families face quandary when mental illness strikes adult member

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - Austin Allen, 18, pleaded not guilty Friday to killing his grandmother's friend, Tina Zamora, 37, in his grandmother's Lebanon Junction home Thursday.

His family says the man who did it, is not the same one they knew.

"He should not have done what he done, but it was not Austin and it's not," said Joyce Hodge, Allen's grandmother. "He needs help, a year ago, Austin was a perfectly normal 18-year-old boy and just one day he got up and he was not ok."

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His aunt, Shelly Blakley, said, "He'd been diagnosed with dual -- what is it -- dual schizophrenia and bipolar and he's not been taking his medication."

For a person with a mental illness, experts, like NAMI Executive Director Michael Gray, say what might have been happening to Allen is not all that uncommon. A medical condition can cause them to not believe they're sick.

"People can tell you that, doctors can show you evidence, you don't believe it. That affects 50 percent of people with schizophrenia," Gray said.

For those who do want to help, the question becomes what to do when the person's an adult and does not have to follow well-meaning advice.

"It is a real fine line of taking away somebody's rights and putting them in the hospital because they have a mental illness and they choose not to take medication versus protecting the community and themselves," said Chief Operating Operator at Seven Counties Kelly Gannon.

Gannon says it's important to note that in the majority of cases, the mentally ill are more likely to be a victim of crime, than to commit one.

"Most of the time, a mental illness does not pose a real threat to harm self or others," she said.

If you're concerned your loved one is a danger Gannon said, "Immediate threat, you call law enforcement, absolutely."

Gannon says a mental inquest warrant can get the person evaluated for 72 hours and possibly kept for further treatment.

Allen's family says they did that and he wasn't getting better.

Gannon says for families in the same position it may take time, but mental illness is not a life sentence.

"There's more treatment, effective treatment so there's a lot more hope out there," she said. "I really do want to make sure that people understand that just because he was mentally ill doesn't mean that that was the cause of the violence."

Families or patients who are looking for help can call Seven Counties Hope Now hotline 24 hours a day at (502) 589-4313 or 1-800-221-0446.

NAMI also has resources, including support groups for families. You can find those by clicking here.

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