I'm a psychiatrist, and as many have already stated here on the threads, I wonder what the full story may be, so I'm not here to comment on who was right in this situation. I just wanted to throw some points out there....
#1) LEO's have a tough job; and unfortunately their job gets even harder b/c they often have to lend a hand to the mental health field in emergent situations, and they do have a duty to help get someone to a hospital setting for a safety evaluation if a Section 12 if filed my and MD, or as stated before, they feel there is imminent risk of harm to self or others. (Thank you to the officers who put their lives on the line and helping me and my colleagues out in the ER).
#2) Once someone is brought to the ER; it really depends on the particular psychiatrist evaluating the patient, whether they will be involuntarily hospitalized or not on a Section 12, as this decision is SUBJECTIVE (though we try our best to make it as evidenced based as possible) and varies GREATLY from clinician to clinician. In simplified fashion: someone can be sectioned 12'd based off the following
1) Evidence of Imminent risk of harm to self
2) Evidence of Imminent risk of harm to others
3) Evidence that the patient is unable to protect himself or care for himself reasonably in the community.
(obviously a lot of room for different interpretation of the above)
For example:
Some of my colleagues will see a patient with paranoid schizophrenia and section 12 them immediately without blinking. Based off any of the 3 criteria above.
I personally, as an example, saw a paranoid schizophrenic in the ER earlier this week, and YES, she was paranoid as hell. But, she was not suicidal, she had no history of violence or agression per her family members that I spoke with, and she somehow...has managed to make it in the community (wandering around from relatives house to relatives house and visiting ERs randomly across the city to get food, place to sleep, etc). So in my eyes, she wasn't harming herself, others, and taking care of basic needs. She obviously would benefit from meds and treatment (but she had a 10 year hx of a million hospitalizations and never following through with meds/treatment). So in my eyes, she didn't meet section 12 criteria, she didn't want to come in, and she went along her paranoid....merry way.
As u can see....subjective decision making depending on the clinician.
#3) 90% of Psychiatrists FREAK OUT when they find out that a patient owns a firearm; even if suicide is not the main issue in their case. (This is my experience in MA so far... I don't know how other shrinks are in other states, any NH shrinks around to comment??)
(First off, before I continue, if I had a patient who was severely depressed, psychotic, manic, etc. who had a history of impulsive behaviors, had active suicidal ideation, etc. and had a firearm, YES, i would be concerned as a clinician for their immediate level of risk.)
But, the point I want to make is that 90% (from my experience, maybe more) of psychiatrists and mental health workers will FREAK OUT, when they hear that one of their patients owns a firearm, even if they are NOT suicidal. And sometimes decide to Section 12; or prevent discharge from an inpatient unit solely based off this fact.
here are some reactions I have heard from my colleagues once it is discovered that their patient/client own a handgun... they often come to ask me questions b/c even though I am a NEWB when it comes to firearms, to them I am an Expert in terms of firearms knowledge. Here are TRUE QUOTES from my colleagues when they discover a pt. owns a firearm.
#1) "he said he owns a semi-automatic@?!? that's like those uzi's that can kill a lot of people quick right????!?!?"
#2) "the patient said he own a .22 rifle....that's like an AK47, don't we have to call the police????!?!?!"
#3) "we were going to discharge him today because he's doing much better, but didn't he say he goes hunting? ....that means he has a gun.... we can't let him go home now, that's too dangerous, we have to call the family to get the gun out of there".
Being realistic, a psychiatric disorder and firearms are NOT a great mix. But, unfortunately, depending on WHICH PSYCHIATRIST you tell, it can overshadow all of the other facts in the case.... rather than owning a firearm being just another FACTOR in a safety risk assessment.
So yes, if a psychiatrist or mental health worker finds out, you own a firearm... beware.... it can definitely impact their viewpoint of your case.
Sorry for the long post, I am at the tail end of my 24 hour shift... and reading this forum has been the only thing keeping me entertained between seeing patients....
Thanks for all the interesting reading tonight!
Andy