crisis intervention

Parents called for mental health help. Police arrived and fatally shot their son.

As I sit here reflecting on the tragic story of Mr. Yong, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of sorrow and frustration. The fact that his parents reached out for mental health help for their son, only to have the situation escalate to the point where he was fatally shot by the police, is a devastating example of the failures in our current system. It pains me to think about the immense guilt and grief that his parents must be experiencing, knowing that their well-intentioned actions resulted in such a tragic outcome.

The video footage and detailed accounts of the incident paint a heartbreaking picture of a man in crisis, clearly struggling with his mental health.… Continue reading

California officer shoots and kills boy, 15, holding gardening tool

As I read the headline about a California officer shooting and killing a 15-year-old boy holding a gardening tool, my initial reaction was one of shock and disbelief. The ambiguity of the phrase “holding a gardening tool” left much to the imagination, ranging from a peaceful gardener tending to his plants to a violent attacker wielding a dangerous weapon. The headline seemed intentionally misleading, painting a picture of innocence that was far from the truth.

Upon delving deeper into the details of the incident, it became apparent that the situation was more complex than initially portrayed. The young boy, Ryan Gainer, was not just casually holding a harmless gardening tool; he was actively engaging in a violent altercation with his own family members.… Continue reading