A Douglas County mother is searching for her 30-year-old son. Brian Curtis, 30, lives an “off-grid” life, but his mother, who suffers from mental health issues, just wants to help. Christy Kerwin is trying to find a way to balance what her adult son needs with what she wants. “He’s just doing the same thing over and over again,” Kerwin said. Curtis has been missing for two months, and Kerwin, who is now her son’s legal guardian, said Curtis wants to live without drugs. He has schizophrenia. “He just wants to get out. The problem is, you can’t force him into a living situation or a medical situation that he doesn’t want to be in,” Kerwin said. “I don’t know what options we have at this point.” She said she is trying to work with the state mental health commission, but resources are limited. “They released him within three days. We had a family meeting and said it’s not illegal to have a mental health condition and it’s not illegal to be homeless. They released him to his family. ,” Kerwin said. Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson said his department sees incidents like this frequently. “The common thread is striking: the lack of safety nets for people suffering from acute mental health issues,” Hanson said. Kerwin has filed a missing person’s report for Curtis since he was an adult, and there is now a warrant out for her son’s arrest. Mr Hanson said: “Brian is not wanted for any heinous act, but the criminal justice system that he is currently in, unfortunately, will help us get the word out about him and find him.” It is possible.” Kerwin hopes a change in state law will help her son. “As far as the law is concerned, we want to expand the scope of what constitutes a danger to self and others,” Kerwin said, adding, “You don’t have to be held at gunpoint beforehand or try to jump off a bridge. I think so,” he said. It’s a danger to themselves and others,” said state Sen. Carolyn Voss, who said she has heard similar concerns. “There’s so much overlap that the only reason they’re getting services is because they happen to be breaking the law, but I don’t think this is a long-term solution, so some of these services “That’s not a very good way to expose it,” the boss said. “We are limited by two things: current law, current legislation and lack of infrastructure,” Hanson said. Vos said she thinks she and her fellow senators are interested in finding a solution. “We need to pivot, or perhaps both, to continue doing what we’re doing in community health care, and we may need to change the law,” Bosun said. For now, all Carwin can do is wait and hope Curtis is safe wherever he is. “Brian, your family loves you very much, and if you could come home, we would love to help you,” Kerwin said. Curtis is 30 years old and has a height of 5 feet 4 inches. He weighs approximately 175 pounds. If anyone sees him, they are asked to call the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office at 402-444-6641.
A Douglas County mother is searching for her 30-year-old son. Brian Curtis, 30, lives an “off-grid” life, but his mother, who suffers from mental health issues, just wants to help.
Christy Kerwin has been looking for a way to balance what her adult son needs with what he wants.
“He just does the same thing over and over again,” Kerwin said.
Curtis has been missing for two months.
Kerwin, who is now her son’s legal guardian, said Curtis wants to live without drugs. He has schizophrenia.
“He just wants to get out. The problem is, you can’t force him into a living situation or a medical situation that he doesn’t want to be in,” Kerwin said. “We don’t know what options we have at this point.”
She has tried to work with the state mental health commission, but said resources are limited.
“They released him within three days. We had a family meeting and said it’s not illegal to have a mental health condition and it’s not illegal to be homeless. They released him to his family. ,” Kerwin said.
Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson said his department sees incidents like this frequently.
“The common thread is striking: the lack of safety nets for people suffering from acute mental health issues,” Hanson said.
Kerwin has filed a missing person’s report for Curtis since he was an adult, and there is now a warrant out for her son’s arrest.
Mr Hanson said: “Although Brian is not wanted for any heinous crime, the criminal justice system that he is currently in, unfortunately, will allow us to get the word out about him. We can look for him.”
Kerwin hopes a change in state law will help her son.
“As far as the law is concerned, we want to expand the scope of what constitutes a danger to self and others,” Kerwin said, adding, “You don’t have to be held at gunpoint beforehand or try to jump off a bridge. I think so,” he said. They are dangerous to themselves and others. ”
State Sen. Carolyn Vos said she has heard similar concerns.
“There’s so much overlap that the only reason they’re getting services is because they happen to be breaking the law, but I don’t think this is a long-term solution, so some of these services “That’s not a very good way to expose it,” the boss said.
“We are limited by two things: current law, current legislation and lack of infrastructure,” Hanson said.
Bosun said she believes she and her fellow senators are interested in finding a solution.
“We need to pivot, or perhaps both, to continue doing what we’re doing in community health care, and we may need to change the law,” Bosun said.
For now, all Carwin can do is wait and hope Curtis is safe wherever he is.
“Brian, your family loves you very much and if you would come home, we would love to help you,” Kerwin said.
Curtis is 30 years old and has a height of 5 feet 4 inches. He weighs approximately 175 pounds.
If anyone sees him, they are asked to call the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office at 402-444-6641.
