Mental Illness and Despair in Oregon: A Father’s Anguish
Austin Graham’s mental health deteriorated rapidly, leaving his parents desperate for help. However, Oregon’s strict standards for involuntary treatment made it impossible to get him the care he needed.
Despite numerous hospital visits and a guardianship, Austin refused medication and was released with a “unenforceable” behavioral health plan. The tragic result was the death of his mother, Teresa, who was strangled in her home by her mentally ill son.
Hunter Graham, Austin’s father, blames the failure of Oregon’s mental health system. He points to the lack of secure residential facilities and community-based treatment options for challenging cases. He believes that “treatment would have undoubtedly prevented this” and is calling for changes in the system to ensure that others do not suffer the same fate as his family.
Austin Graham is now being held at the Oregon State Hospital, where he is receiving treatment. His father visits him, heartbroken by what has happened and the realization that his son now understands the gravity of his actions.
This tragedy highlights the urgent need for reform in Oregon’s mental health system. The Graham family’s experience is a powerful reminder that individuals with severe mental illness often need mandated care to prevent them from harming themselves or others. As Hunter Graham says, “Nobody should have to feel this way.” It is time for Oregon’s policymakers, healthcare workers, and the public to work together to fix a system that is failing those in desperate need of help.
