Author: NRHPD Media

This is the official blog site for the North Richland Hills Police Department (TX). If you have an emergency, please dial 9-1-1. If you have a non-emergency concern, please contact police dispatch 24/7 817-281-1000.

#MHM – Bipolar Disorder

When we see someone switch moods suddenly, we often hear someone say, “Wow, they are so bi-polar.”

The reality is, people with bipolar disorder do not have sudden and unexpected mood swings. That is more typical of borderline personality disorder which we talked about a couple of weeks ago.

People with bipolar disorder instead have longer cycles of mood changes between mania and depression which may cycle anywhere from a few times a year to a few times a month with most cycles lasting at least a week.

During the depressed phase, the person shows all the classic signs of a depression disorder such as feeling hopeless or helpless and having little to no motivation to enjoy things they normally would have.

During the manic phase, the person may show hyperactivity, increased impulsivity, increased risky behaviors, and go days without sleep. Some can even become psychotic during this time and have delusions or hallucinations.

Bipolar disorder also carries an increased risk of suicide with nearly 50% of those with the diagnosis having attempted at some point. The risk of suicide goes up dramatically when bipolar disorder goes untreated.

So what can be done about bipolar disorder? Well, medications such as mood stabilizers and psychotherapy techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy have shown great success. The key is getting treatment. Treatment can also be difficult as 40% of people with bipolar disorder also have a lack of insight, called anosognosia, which we’ve talked about before as well. This lack of insight makes treatment routines difficult to stay on.

Again, treatment is key and is helpful. Some resources include:

The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide

New Hope for People with Bipolar Disorder

And, as I frequently mention, a great book for helping your loved one with a lack of insight help themselves:

I Am Not Sick; I Don’t Need Help!

 

Officer C. Morgan #622

Mental Health Peace Officer

North Richland Hills Police Department

(817) 427-7092

 

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Media Release – Shooting – PR 17-04

Carissa Katekaru

Media Relations Coordinator/Public Information Officer

Phone: (817) 427-7076

E-Mail: ckatekaru@nrhtx.com

NEWS RELEASE                For Immediate Release                      PR 17-04

 

On February 11, 2017 at approximately 6:28 PM, North Richland Hills Police received a report of a shooting in the 6600 block of Onyx Drive North.

Officers arrived on scene and located a 52 year old white male and 22 year old white female, both with apparent gunshot wounds.

The investigation indicates the shooting resulted from an accidental discharge of the firearm. The male subject was handling the weapon when it discharged, striking both the male and female.

Both victims were transported by ground ambulance to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

 

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Attempted Abduction Press Release PR 17-03

Carissa Katekaru

Media Relations Coordinator/Public Information Officer

Phone: (817) 427-7076

E-Mail: ckatekaru@nrhtx.com

            NEWS RELEASE                For Immediate Release            PR 17-03

The North Richland Hills Police are currently investigating a report of an attempted abduction that occurred in the area of Little Ranch Rd and Hightower Dr. The incident occurred February 9, 2017 at approximately 7:30 AM.

Police were able to determine that the victim (Male 13 yoa) was riding his bicycle to school, when he was approached by a Grey Nissan Titan.  The police were told that the driver of the truck pulled near the child and asked him if he needed a ride. The child answered “no” and the driver proceeded to get out of the vehicle. The child pulled his cell phone from his backpack and attempted to take pictures of the subject. The subject quickly returned to his vehicle and left west on Hightower Dr towards Rufe Snow.

The male driver is described as: White male, red hair and red goatee, approximately 30-40 years of age, around 6’0” tall with a stocky build and 3 visible round marks on his left cheek. Subject was reported as wearing a black sweatshirt with grey hood and sleeves, with a deer logo on the front.

The vehicle is described as: Grey Nissan Titan, 4-door, with black rims, step bar and a roll bar with six round lights.

The police are currently investigating the incident and are asking the community for their assistance in identifying all persons and possible witnesses to this incident. Please contact the North Richland Hills Police Department with any information on this incident by calling 817-427-7000.

 

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*Last updated 02/09/2017 2:24 PM*

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UNIDOS Health Fair Press Release

UNIDOS Health Fair Press Release – PR 17-02

The UNIDOS team of the North Richland Hills Police Department will host a free Health Fair.  The community wide event will take place on Friday, February 25, 2017 from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM at G.W Thomas Coliseum, 6108 Broadway Avenue Haltom City, Texas.

UNIDOS is a statewide program geared towards improving the quality of life for our Hispanic Community. This is accomplished by partnering with resources in our community to provide assistance in areas of relevance to our residents whose first language is Spanish.

The Health Fair will bring more than 40 health vendors to the market to provide services and educational materials on important health issues that affect the Hispanic community.  Services include Free Blood Pressure and Health Screenings for the entire family, information on breast and cervical cancer, Medicare/Medicaid, diabetes, dental screenings, skin care, free giveaways and more!

 

The Health Fair is free and open to the public.  For more information regarding the Health Fair, please feel free to reach out to Officer Kristina Gonzalez of the North Richland Hills Police Department at 817-427-7211 or kgonzalez@nrhtx.com.

 

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Beat Management Program

Did you know the City of North Richland Hills is divided in to eight districts, also known as “beats?” Do you know what beat you live in?

For the purposes of response to calls for service, the City of North Richland Hills is divided in to eight separate geographical areas, known as districts or beats. In the Beat Management Program, patrol officers get to select (based on seniority), their own beat and work in it every day. By utilizing this program, our officers can better serve the community and form a partnership with our citizens. By managing their beats on a daily basis, officers can get to know the people that reside and work in their assigned areas, and truly understand any associated problems within their individual beat. We encourage officers to interact with staff and students in schools, attend homeowners and neighborhood watch meetings and truly “get to know” their piece of the community.

If you have any questions or to see who your assigned officer is, follow the link to our website to learn more: Beat Officers

 

beatmap

 

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#MHM Borderline Personality Disorder

Hello again,

Today I wanted to discuss the struggles that come for those diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). The symptoms of BPD cause huge struggles for those with the diagnosis, their family, friends, and loved ones.

While women are more frequently diagnosed with BPD than men are (3 to 1), both genders can suffer from it, and the symptoms may manifest themselves differently.

For women, the symptoms may include(1):

  • Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment
  • A pattern of intense and unstable relationships with family, friends, and loved ones, often swinging from extreme closeness and love (idealization) to extreme dislike or anger (devaluation)
  • Distorted and unstable self-image or sense of self
  • Impulsive and often dangerous behaviors, such as spending sprees, unsafe sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, and binge eating
  • Recurring suicidal behaviors or threats or self-harming behavior, such as cutting
  • Intense and highly changeable moods, with each episode lasting from a few hours to a few days
  • Chronic feelings of emptiness
  • Inappropriate, intense anger or problems controlling anger
  • Having stress-related paranoid thoughts
  • Having severe dissociative symptoms, such as feeling cut off from oneself, observing oneself from outside the body, or losing touch with reality

For men, the symptoms might be the same or a little different and include(2):

  • Aggressively thin-skinned
  • Controlling through criticism
  • Irrational jealousy
  • Possessive but detached
  • Rejecting relationships
  • Holding grudges
  • Using sex to relieve insecurity
  • Substance abuse

These symptoms are difficult to live with both as the one with the diagnosis and others living in the tempest. The person with BPD may cycle rapidly through, “I love you! I hate you! Please don’t leave me!” and all involved struggle to be able to deal with the emotions this cycling causes. The person with BPD is terrified of abandonment and tries so hard to prevent it and in turn, cause it.

Because of this “hole” in their lives, those with BPD often turn to other people and actions to fill the void. They might go on wild spending sprees, have affairs or engage in unsafe sex, or self-medicate with drugs or alcohol.

Sadly, because the amount of “drama” and disarray that BPD brings into their life, people with BPD have a high rate of suicide.

“About 70% of people with BPD will make at least one suicide attempt in their lifetimes. In addition, between 8 and 10 percent of people with BPD will complete suicide; this rate is more than 50 times the rate of suicide in the general population.”(3)

Though this diagnosis is notoriously difficult to deal with without therapy or treatment, there is hope. While there are no medications recommended to treat BPD, there are some talk therapies that can help a BPD sufferer better cope with their beliefs or feelings and temper their responses. These therapies include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).

There are also several books that come highly recommended. Do some research and read some reviews to see if one of these might help you understand what is happening and how to go forward on dealing with it.

Borderline Personality Disorder Survival Guide

Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook

I Hate You — Don’t Leave Me

Loving Someone With Borderline Personality Disorder

References:

  1. NIMH:   https://goo.gl/A6zK4w
  2. Psychology Today: https://goo.gl/xJGAU0
  3. VeryWell.com: https://goo.gl/kKnmiQ

 

I sincerely hope this brief article helps you, or someone who loves you, get help to lead a happier life.

As always, feel free to contact me at (817) 427-7092 to get help finding resources or treatment.

All the best!

Officer C. Morgan #622

Mental Health Peace Officer

North Richland Hills Police Department

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A Heartwarming Interview

Recently, Officer Morgan had the opportunity to meet with Ryan, a ten-year-old boy with Autism. His journey with finding his voice is truly incredible, and we were humbled and honored to be interviewed by him.

Officer Morgan writes of their time together:

“Yesterday, I had the incredible good fortune to meet Ryan. At one’s first impression, because he is non-verbal, one might make certain assumptions about his capabilities. I learned that Ryan has more to say than many people I know.

With the use of his letter board, Ryan and his mother Stephanie interviewed me for over an hour. When Ryan let me get a word in, , I asked him this question, “If there were just one thing I could teach officers about their interactions with autistic people, what would it be?” I jotted it down as he spelled it out and I’m attaching a picture as well as a picture of me and Ryan and Freckles, his autism assistance dog.

Ryan has a blog. If you are interested, here is the URL: www.iaminmyhead.com

What a great kid. Stop by anytime Ryan.”

 

Thank you for the visit Ryan!

-Your friends at NRHPD

 

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NRH C.A.R.E.S.

Caregiver Assigned Registry for Elderly & Special Needs

 

Our Community Services Division is constantly thinking outside of the box with great ways to meet the needs of our citizens. With that being said, we are excited to launch our latest program – NRH C.A.R.E.S.

NRH C.A.R.E.S. is a program dedicated to aiding families with members who suffer from dementia, Alzheimer’s disease or other cognitive abilities through this free I.D. program to help in the event that the person wanders from home.

The NRH C.A.R.E.S. Program allows family members of elderly or people with special needs to register their loved one with the North Richland Hills Police Department giving a detailed physical description, photograph and basic medical history. A free alert bracelet containing a serial number inscription is provided for your loved one to wear. Should they go missing, the bracelet can assist the police in his or her safe return home.

Online registration is available or for more information please visit the NRH C.A.R.E.S website. You may also contact Officer McEachran at 817.427.7024

 

nrhcares

 

cares

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Fatality Accident 12.24.16

Press Release                            For Immediate Release

Investigator K. Bauman | Public Information Officer | 817-427-7014

On December 24, 2016 at approximately 2:26 PM, emergency personnel responded to a motor vehicle crash at Mid Cities Boulevard and Smithfield Road. The initial investigation indicates a black 1934 Ford 2 door was traveling eastbound 7900 block Mid Cities Boulevard. A second vehicle, 2008 Yamaha motorcycle was traveling in the same direction, attempting to pass in the left lane. For an unknown reason, the Ford lost control and struck the motorcycle. The two vehicles collided and the motorcyclist did not survive his injuries.

The driver of the Ford 2 door, a 63 year old male from North Richland Hills Texas was transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation, and the name of the deceased is being withheld until the family can be notified.

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The Impact of Suicide on Others #MHM

With recent events, I felt it was timely and important to discuss the impact of suicide on the survivors, such as friends, siblings, parents, and children.

(I want to note that, as of the time of this writing, the cause of death for Mr. Loncar is undetermined. I’m not privy to exclusive information and I’m not any more informed about what happened that the public in general. The incident was simply the catalyst for writing this article.)

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Suicide is tragic for everyone involved. We can all agree that it is terrible that someone can reach a point that their ability to cope has been exceeded and they believe the only escape is suicide. But suicide has significant direct and indirect impact on others as well.

People mourning a friend or family who committed suicide, or died suddenly, are 65% more likely to attempt suicide. 80% are more likely to drop out of school or quit work.

Children (< 18) who lose a parent to suicide at an early age are three times more likely to commit suicide. They are also twice as likely to be hospitalized for depression and this applies to other family members as well.

Parents who lose a child to suicide have double the rate of depression for the two years after the death. They also have a 40% increase in anxiety disorders and a 60% increases in other disorders.

“Suicide contagion” is also very real. Analysis shows that at least 5% of youth suicides were influenced by the suicide of someone else, even when they weren’t well known by the person whether someone else at school, work, or a famous person. Some studies showed up to a 12% rise. In one incident, where a fictional subject on a soap opera committed suicide by overdose of acetaminophen, there was a 17% uptick of attempts of real world suicide by overdose using acetaminophen the following week.

Not only are there mental consequences but there are physical consequences as well. Incidents of cardiovascular disease, COPD, high blood pressure, and diabetes all go up. They are 18% more likely to get a divorce. Even that divorce can trigger suicide rates three times higher than average.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

As we can see, suicide has a significant impact on everyone and lasting effects on the people left behind. During these hard times, keep an eye on your loved ones for signs that they aren’t coping well. Here is an easy mnemonic device to help you remember what to look for:

Here’s an easy-to-remember mnemonic:

IS PATH WARM?

 I  Ideation
S  Substance Abuse

P  Purposelessness
A  Anxiety
T  Trapped
H  Hopelessness

W  Withdrawal
A  Anger
R  Recklessness
M  Mood Changes

 

As always, we’re here to help and if there is something we, or I, can do to help please don’t hesitate to call us at 911 in an emergency, 817-427-1000 in a non-emergency, or call my office directly at 817-427-7092.

 

All the best,

Officer Morgan

 

Resources:

 

References: