Mental health organizations offer help to families

Before opening fire at a restaurant on Lake Hefner, Alexander Tilghman posted a series of disturbing videos suggesting he may have been in a mental health crisis.

Tilghman, 28, said he was being tormented by demons, both in his home and when walking near the lake. In at least one video, he begged for help. It isn’t clear who may have seen the videos, or whether he was receiving any mental health treatment.

Mike Brose, executive director of the Mental Health Association of Oklahoma, said he couldn’t offer insight into Tilghman’s case and cautioned against drawing conclusions about his history. He did, however, urge anyone who notices signs that someone could be in mental distress not to shrug off their concerns.

“Those things have to be taken seriously,” he said.

Most people with mental illnesses don’t commit violent acts against others, and can live fulfilling and productive lives with appropriate treatment, Brose said. If a person is in severe distress, however, temporarily removing firearms or reducing access to them with a gun safe or trigger lock decreases the odds the person will die by suicide or harm someone else, he said.

Some people don’t realize they have a mental illness, and may be upset if a loved one attempts to call for help, said Jean Williams, a member of the Edmond chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. It’s important to understand that the consequences of not getting help can be severe, even if the person can’t see that and appreciate the need for help at the time, she said.

NAMI and the Mental Health Association both offer assistance navigating options in the mental health system, and can suggest whether it might be best to call police, attempt to talk to the person, or perhaps take him or her to an emergency room.

Capt. Jeff Pierce, who leads the Oklahoma City Police Department’s crisis intervention team, said a person doesn’t have to directly threaten himself or others before police can assist. If you observe signs of severe mental distress, you can call 911 and an officer will make an assessment, he said.

If you call police about a mental health crisis, you should prepare to write an affidavit clearly laying out the behavior that concerns you, Williams said. That information can give police cause to take a person for a psychiatric evaluation, even if they don’t observe the person acting strangely.

While resources exist, it can be difficult to get help for people who don’t think they need it, particularly since Oklahoma has cut funding for mental health over the years, Williams said.

Loved ones may try their best, and not be able to find anything more than short-term solutions that keep a person safe for a few days without treating the underlying illness.

“You could have a family that knew the resources, that went to the top and still couldn’t stop the landslide,” she said. “You’re left wanting for some better solutions.”