Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
It is a real difficult situation for sure. We were visiting Las Vegas a few years ago, and staying in a hotel on Fremont Street. We came out of the Golden Nugget, and there was a woman there in obvious distress. She wandered around for a while talking to herself, and then stood leaning against a wall of the casino. She was very dirty, and in a terrible state.
I didn't know what to do. She wasn't drunk for sure. All the other tourists around me just ignored her. She then wet herself, and began crying. I felt totally helpless. I didn't want to go over and talk to her. I couldn't see what I personally could do. She seemed to need medical help, but no one in authority seemed to want to do anything about it at all. The Golden Nugget security staff just seemed concerned in keeping her out of the casino.
If I had seen such a scene in England, I would have rung 999 for an ambulance, to take her to hospital. I had no idea if that could have been done in Las Vegas. No Americans seemed to want to get involved, so we walked away. When we returned later, she was gone. I still wonder what happened to her.
No they didn't do anything because they are used to it.
Their are dirty, sick, mentally ill homeless people all over in some cities, it is part of the scenery and some are veterans. Shame on us.
It is a real difficult situation for sure. We were visiting Las Vegas a few years ago, and staying in a hotel on Fremont Street. We came out of the Golden Nugget, and there was a woman there in obvious distress. She wandered around for a while talking to herself, and then stood leaning against a wall of the casino. She was very dirty, and in a terrible state.
I didn't know what to do. She wasn't drunk for sure. All the other tourists around me just ignored her. She then wet herself, and began crying. I felt totally helpless. I didn't want to go over and talk to her. I couldn't see what I personally could do. She seemed to need medical help, but no one in authority seemed to want to do anything about it at all. The Golden Nugget security staff just seemed concerned in keeping her out of the casino.
If I had seen such a scene in England, I would have rung 999 for an ambulance, to take her to hospital. I had no idea if that could have been done in Las Vegas. No Americans seemed to want to get involved, so we walked away. When we returned later, she was gone. I still wonder what happened to her.
You could have dialed 911 and reported a woman in distress; the police would have taken her to a hospital for an evaluation. The hospital would then determine if she met the criteria or not for a 72 hour hold. If she didn't they would attempt a connection through local channels of assistance but if none were available, they'd discharge her right back out again. We don't have a lot of "halfway homes" available in this situation.
As far as Americans ignoring this problem goes, many many many of our nation's homeless flock to the western part of the nation because the warm temperatures are far more desirable. A city like Las Vegas is full of homeless people, and they like to congregate in public areas where they can panhandle for money. A one-mile walk up or down The Strip will find one crossing the path of many homeless people. At what point does one begin to look the other way?
I was born and raised in San Francisco and have been confronted with the sight of mentally ill and homeless people my entire life. I've both helped when I could, and walked past them when I couldn't. I've also been attacked and assaulted more than once by a mentally ill person. It's a sad reality of life lived among millions and millions of people.
That's not the solution to this immediate problem. Meanwhile, what to do to keep such an outrageous thing from happening again?
This was a state-run university hospital.
Yes! I don't get this. I've worked in hospitals. I cannot imagine anything like this happening in any of them.
Well, there's the photographic evidence.
I would like to add, for all the posters, it's not know what this woman's diagnosis was. Everyone has leapt to the conclusion that she was hospitalized for MH reasons but "The hospital spokeswoman did not comment on what the woman had been treated for, citing patient privacy laws." https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/11/u...oman.html?_r=0
A state-run university hospital still charges. Yes a UHS is a solution. Please read the posts here from the gentleman from Britain.
The current UK Government has made a number of pledges regarding mental health services, funding and the stigma attached to mental health. However we shall have to wait and see what the outcome is.
This is a practice going on for years. Hospitals dumps a patient to the streets rather than keeping them or connecting them with needed social services.
In many communities, Crisis Intervention Teams of police officers and community mental health socio workers work to resolve issues in the community brought on by mental illness.
A state-run university hospital still charges. Yes a UHS is a solution. Please read the posts here from the gentleman from Britain.
I have read much on various UHCs. They're not all 100% free for everything. And you have no idea what this person's insurance status was. She may be on Medicare or Medicaid, in which case there's no charge to her. I think you need an education on UHCs if you think there's no charges involved.
And it's surer than H*ll not an immediate answer to this woman's problem.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
