Kara: "Hello, I'm calling because I'm extremely concerned about my friend, Kai, Kaizen M. Lee. He's been experiencing severe nightmares, and I'm worried about his mental health. He seems to be slipping back into a very dangerous state."
Receptionist/Intake Specialist: "Thank you for calling, Kara. Can you tell me a little more about what's been happening with Mr. Lee?"
Kara: "He's been having these incredibly vivid and disturbing nightmares. About a week ago, he attempted suicide. I was able to stop him. After that, he seemed to be doing a bit better, but now he's regressing. He's talking about the nightmares again, saying they feel more real than this, about being chased, trapped, attacked, and feeling like he's in hell. He says the dreams have messages, and he is losing his sense of self. He is asking me what is real."
Receptionist/Intake Specialist: "That sounds very serious. So, a suicide attempt a week ago, and now a relapse. Has he been under any professional care since the attempt?"
Kara: "No, he refused. I thought I could help him, but I'm not a professional. I now realize I am in over my head."
Receptionist/Intake Specialist: "Okay. Given the previous attempt and his current state, we need to get him seen as soon as possible. Can you tell me his date of birth and any contact information you have for Mr. Lee?"
Kara: "Yes, his date of birth is December 15, 2008. His phone number is ..., and he lives at..."
Receptionist/Intake Specialist: "We will attempt to contact him. We also recommend that you bring him to our emergency department as soon as possible. Given the circumstances, we will also contact the local authorities to perform a wellness check."
Kara hung up the phone, her hand trembling slightly. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. As she turned, she saw Dennis approaching, his expression filled with concern.
"How did it go?" he asked, his voice low.
"They're going to try and contact him," Kara replied, "and they recommended we bring him to the emergency department as soon as possible. They're also going to do a wellness check."
Dennis nodded, a grim expression on his face. "Okay. We'll figure it out. We'll go tomorrow morning."
"Yeah," Kara said, a sense of determination settling in her chest. "Tomorrow."
Later that evening, Kara and Dennis met at Mrs. Lee's small store. The air was heavy with unspoken worry. They approached Mrs. Lee, her face etched with concern as she sorted through her fresh produce.
"...Mrs. Lee," Kara began gently, "we need to talk about Kai."
They shared with her the details of Kai's nightmares, his previous suicide attempt, and the urgent need for him to receive professional help. Mrs. Lee listened, her eyes filling with tears.
"Oh, my poor boy," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I've been so worried. He's been like this ever since… since Ethan. It's been going on for so long, and it's just getting worse. But… I don't know what to do. My son…" she trailed off, her voice filled with shame, "he's… he's not in a state to help. And Kai's mother… she's gone, always gambling, playing cards. They have a very dysfunctional family, I regret to say."
Kara and Dennis exchanged a look of understanding. They knew they had to step in. "Mrs. Lee," Kara said gently, "we want to help Kai. We want to be there for him until he gets better."
Dennis nodded, his voice firm. "We'll take care of everything. We'll take him to the hospital tomorrow morning."
Mrs. Lee's eyes filled with tears, a mixture of gratitude and relief washing over her. "Oh, my dears," she said, her voice choked with emotion. "I don't know what I would do without you. Thank you. Thank you so much."
Kara and Dennis offered her a comforting smile. "We'll keep you updated every step of the way," Kara promised.
The next morning, Kara and Dennis arrived at Kai's house. Kai, looking pale and weary, opened the door.
"We're going to take you to the hospital, Kai," Dennis said gently. "They want to do a checkup."
Kai looked at them, his eyes filled with a mixture of confusion and fear. But he didn't resist. He simply nodded, and they helped him into the car.
At the hospital, they were met by a doctor who immediately began assessing Kai's condition. Kara and Dennis watched, their hearts aching for their friend. They knew this was just the beginning of a long and difficult journey, but they were determined to be there for Kai, every step of the way.
Doctor/Therapist: "Hello, I'm Dr. Riemel Cruz. Thank you for bringing Kai's situation to our attention. Tell me more about what you have observed."
Kara: "Kai has been struggling with these extremely intense nightmares for a while. About a week ago, he tried to jump off the school auditorium balcony. We managed to stop him. He seemed to pull himself together afterwards, but it was like a mask. He was still having the nightmares, but he was hiding it. Now, he's completely breaking down again. He is asking me what is real, and keeps talking about the nightmares. He looks terrified."
Doctor/Therapist: "And you said he hasn't received any professional help since the suicide attempt?"
Kara: "No. He refused. He kept saying he was fine, that he could handle it. I thought I could help him, but I realize now that he needs professional help."
Doctor/Therapist: "Okay. Kai's situation is very concerning. The previous suicide attempt, combined with his current state, indicates a serious mental health crisis. We'll need to conduct a comprehensive assessment and begin immediate treatment. He will need to be admitted to the hospital. Now, I have to ask, what is your relationship to Kai?"
Kara pauses, her eyes welling up. She opens her mouth to speak, but no words come out. She looks away, then back at the doctor, and her hand gestures a vague, encompassing motion, as if to say, "It's complicated." She shakes her head slightly, then looks down, a sad and knowing look on her face.
Her reaction speaks volumes. Dr. Cruz told himself. The hesitation, the unspoken pain, the lack of direct response about family… it's a classic presentation. High probability of family dysfunction, possibly abuse or neglect. The suicide attempt, the intense nightmares, the dissociative symptoms – it all fits a pattern. Complex trauma. He likely has no safe haven outside this room. And she is clearly his lifeline. The fact he wouldn't seek care after the attempt, but is now regressing, shows the level of internal distress. "We need to focus on stability, and building a therapeutic alliance. Trauma informed care is essential here." Dr. Cruz stressed.
Dr. Cruz observes Kara's reaction, the unspoken pain and hesitation. A moment of silence hangs in the air. He nods slowly, a look of understanding on his face. "I understand. We will focus on Kai's immediate needs. Are there any family members we should contact?" Dr. Cruz said. Kara shakes her head slowly, a single tear rolling down her cheek. She looks up at Dr. Cruz, a pleading look in her eyes.
Dr. Cruz: "Alright. We will respect his privacy, unless he requests otherwise. Given the circumstances, we will proceed with you as his emergency contact for now. We will of course, monitor the situation. Given the level of disassociation, and the severity of his nightmares, we will be working to ground him in reality, and to help him understand what is real. We will also be working to discover any underlying trauma, and to treat that trauma. Your support will be very important in his recovery."
Kara: "I'll be here for him. What can I do to help him now?"
Dr. Cruz: "Just being present is important. Try to speak calmly and reassuringly. Remind him where he is, and that he is safe. We'll keep you updated on his progress, and we may ask you to participate in some of his therapy sessions. It is also important that you understand that this will be a long process."