ATLANTA — Employees at Northside Medical Midtown went back to work five days after a gunman opened fire in a waiting room.
As the victims get help, the accused shooter remains in jail, without bond. But there are still many questions about what happened. The suspect’s mother said he had a mental breakdown.
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Once again, mental health is back in the spotlight, during what doctors say is a nationwide crisis.
Channel 2′s Larry Spruill spoke with a a mental health advocate on WSB Tonight at 11 p.m.
“I was depressed, a whole lot. I didn’t know what was going on. My emotions and everything were just up and down,” Trena said.
Trena said she knew something wasn’t right with her.
“I was diagnosed years ago with Bipolar disorder,” she said.
At first, she felt mixed emotions, from disbelief to relief.
“Finally, I know what’s wrong with me,” she said.
Trena said she’s now receiving help but mental health is still something that’s not discussed, it’s more frowned upon. That’s why National Mental Health Month, which is in May, is so important to her.
“I like reaching out to a lot of people when it comes down to it. Especially, because I see a lot of people going through it,” she said.
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Trena said mental health is a national crisis that can, and is, affecting everyone in one way or another. The most recent example is the Midtown Atlanta shooting at Northside Medical Center.
Police said Deion Patterson, 24, allegedly shot five women and one of them died. Patterson’s mother told several media outlets that her son was having a mental crisis.
“What we’re seeing now according to the research is that more people are experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicidal ideation than we’ve ever seen before,” Dr. Rosalyn Pitts Clark said.
Pitts Clark said the issue is getting worse due to a lack of mental health resources and service providers that is adding to the national problem and even crime.
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“We are seeing more and more people with major mental health concerns getting access to guns, getting access to weaponry, which is putting our society at risk,” Pitts Clark said.
Meanwhile, Trena said she’s hoping her story will help others before it’s too late.
“When I see other people going through it, I want to talk to them. Give them comfort. Get them to understand that they’re going to be alright. Hmm. They’re going to be alright. It’s rough out here, but we’ll be all right as long as we get the help we need,” Trena said.
Atlanta Police said they do provide crisis intervention training for officers, which helps them to interact with someone having a mental crisis.
Also, they have a HOPE Team, which stands for Homeless Outreach Proactive Enforcement.
They direct the homeless population to resources and work with multiple partners across the area.
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