A mental health advocate is stressing the critical need for timely treatment following the tragic death of 18-year-old Ezekiel Baseme, a Cedar Rapids man with schizophrenia.
Baseme’s three brothers, Christian, Pierre, and Azane Baseme, were arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with his death from starvation and dehydration. According to court records, the brothers admitted to restraining Ezekiel to a bed in November, intending to prevent him from harming himself or others.
Leslie Carpenter, co-founder of Iowa Mental Health Advocacy, explained that psychosis occurs when an individual loses touch with reality. Carpenter, who has a son with schizophrenia, emphasized that mental illness can be difficult to address because many people only recognize its severity when someone close to them is affected.
“Untreated psychosis causes further brain damage and makes the illness more resistant to treatment,” Carpenter said. “The longer someone is in psychosis, the harder it becomes to help them recover.”
A search warrant reveals that Ezekiel had been experiencing a schizophrenic episode, hallucinating and hearing voices, for weeks before his death. His family reportedly tied him to a mattress after he assaulted one of his brothers and left him in a continued state of psychosis.
Carpenter pointed out that societal stigmas surrounding mental illness often discourage people from seeking help. She noted that in some cultures, mental illness may be misunderstood, with individuals being perceived as “possessed” rather than in need of medical attention.
She stressed the importance of treating mental illness as an urgent medical condition, similar to a stroke. “If we approached people in psychosis the same way we would with stroke patients—getting them immediate care and long-term treatment—the outcomes could be vastly improved,” Carpenter said.
For anyone experiencing a mental health crisis, Carpenter recommended calling the 9-8-8 suicide prevention hotline or contacting 9-1-1 and requesting a crisis intervention team. Additionally, reaching out to mental health organizations for guidance is another essential step in addressing mental health emergencies.
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