mental illness and violence

brother diagnose with bipolar disorder 30 yrs ago has history of violence including murder, constantly threatens family slashed own brother with knife. Becomes obsessed with money attempts to extort from others dispite, having own income. Moves around the country terriozing people threatening them. Also has obsession with writing letters to public officials to hurt the people he focusses on most of the time family or people close to him. Is a vetern, sees va for care. Attempted to have committed for violence towards family recently. Waas discharged, very intelligent, sending family through hell including his own children. Family has multiple ppo's against him despite this he continues to threaten family. We are frustrated trying to prove that he is a danger to society despite numerous police reports from different states, threatening emails, and texts what are we to do we know that he can will and has harmed people in the past what can we do? The police and probate court as well as the va is turning a deaf ear because he hasn't physically struck yet and we know he will because of his violent past.Which was mrecently in another state where he sLAshed a kid with a machette which they listed as a misdomeanor. THIS IS REAL!  

[ILADVOCATE]

There are outpatient committment laws in almost all states that allow a person to have a court mandate that someone recieve psychiatric treatment if they have a history of violent or destructive behavior and if they don't they can automatically be hospitalized. I can't say I entirely support them as they can be abused but there are exceptions and what you describe qualifies. You can find out more from the Treatment Advocacy Center. And please understand although this is of course very real generally there is no connection between mental illness and violence, this coming from a person has made a full recovery from schizoaffective disorder. However, the mental health system is the better place for people who do commit violent acts and have a diagnosis then prisons which can often be abusive and lack adaquete mental health care. Hopefully as treatment improves we will hear less stories like this..