A Family Share: The Johnsons’ Journey Through Adolescent Mental Health Crisis
**Names from submitted and identifying information have been altered to protect the privacy of families and their children.
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Background
Mark Johnson, a 45-year-old father, recently relocated with his family to a small city in Mississippi for a new job opportunity. His 17-year-old son, Alex, struggled with the move and adjusting to a new school environment.
The Crisis
Two months after the move, Alex was hospitalized for suicidal ideation at the local children’s psychiatric unit. The hospitalization lasted for nine days, a period filled with uncertainty and anxiety for the entire family.
Mark’s Story
“I felt like I was drowning, desperately trying to keep my son’s head above water, but everyone kept handing me anchors instead of life preservers. When Alex was hospitalized, I thought we’d finally get the help we needed. But those nine days were just the beginning of a nightmare.
The day we left the hospital, I was a mess of emotions – relief, fear, confusion. They discharged us in the main lobby, people bustling all around us. I clutched those papers they gave us like they were a lifeline, but they might as well have been written in another language. All those acronyms and medical terms… I didn’t know what any of it meant, and neither did Alex.
I remember asking the nurse, ‘What do I need to do to keep my son safe? What should I lock up?’ Her response? ‘Check the NAMI website.’ That’s it. No explanation, no guidance. Just a website. I spent hours on that site, clicking link after link, but I couldn’t find anything that told me how to suicide-proof my home.
Every time I reached out for help, it felt like I was being passed around like a hot potato. The hospital said to talk to the outpatient therapist. The therapist said to consult with the school. The school said to refer to the discharge papers. It was a never-ending circle of buck-passing, and my son was caught in the middle of it all.
The school was another battleground entirely. They looked at Alex like he was just being difficult, lazy even. When I tried to explain what he was going through, they nodded and smiled, but I could see in their eyes they didn’t get it. They kept talking about his ‘health issues’ like it was a bad case of the flu, not a mental health crisis.
I’ve never felt so helpless in my life. Here I was, trying to save my son, and it felt like the entire system was working against me. Nobody had answers, but everyone seemed to think someone else did. It was like being in a maze where every turn led to another dead end.
All I wanted was to help my son, to keep him safe and get him back on track. But at every step, I felt like I was failing him because I couldn’t navigate this labyrinth of a system. It shouldn’t be this hard for a parent to get help for their child. It just shouldn’t.”
DEBRIEF for Hospital Clinicians, School Staff, Mental Health Therapists, and Policymakers
Discharge Process
The discharge took place in the main lobby of the hospital, a public space that left Mark feeling exposed and rushed. He received discharge papers filled with acronyms and medical jargon, including what he believed to be a safety planning sheet. However, neither Mark nor Alex could fully comprehend its contents or purpose.
Seeking Guidance
Concerned about Alex’s safety at home, Mark asked the discharge nurse about necessary precautions, such as securing knives and medications. The nurse responded by referring him to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) website for information. Unfortunately, Mark found the website overwhelming and couldn’t locate the specific guidance he needed.
School Challenges
Upon Alex’s return to school, Mark encountered additional obstacles. The school administration seemed ill-equipped to handle Alex’s situation, perceiving his struggles as laziness rather than symptoms of his mental health condition. Despite Alex having an Individualized Education Program (IEP), the school was reluctant to modify his schedule or accommodations, attributing his issues solely to health problems rather than considering the impact of school-related stress.
Sheila’s Reflection: Mark found himself navigating a complex and often unresponsive system, feeling unsupported in his efforts to help his son. The experience highlighted significant gaps in the mental health care system, particularly in terms of providing clear, actionable information to families and ensuring smooth transitions between hospital, home, and school environments.
Sheila’s Call to Action Brainstorm: What is one thing that could have supported Mark as he transitioned his son home?
Sheila Sjolseth 