{"formatVersion":"1.1","id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/help-for-dealing-with-a-deranged-father-tips-advice","path":"/answers/help-for-dealing-with-a-deranged-father-tips-advice","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/help-for-dealing-with-a-deranged-father-tips-advice","title":"Can we involuntarily admit a family member in a crisis?","family":"Answers detail","description":"A family describes a father making explicit violent threats with a weapon and later denying the incident.","language":"en-US","access":{"audience":"custom-shared-preview","indexable":true},"provenance":{"sourceUrl":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/help-for-dealing-with-a-deranged-father-tips-advice","wordpressId":"6124","contentCompleteness":"complete","dateScope":"original-source"},"authors":[{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/allan-schwartz#person","name":"Allan Schwartz, Ph.D.","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/allan-schwartz"}],"reviewer":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson#person","name":"Jesse Hanson, Ph.D.","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson"},"dates":{"datePublished":"2025-07-18T10:44:25Z","dateModified":"2026-06-08T09:03:55Z","lastReviewed":"2025-09-15"},"content":{"html":"<nav class=\"breadcrumbs\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\"><ol><li><a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/\">Home</a></li><li><a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers\">Answers</a></li><li><span aria-current=\"page\">Can we involuntarily admit a family member in a crisis?</span></li></ol></nav><div class=\"article-page answer-page\" data-answer-template=\"conversation\"><header class=\"answer-heading article-heading\"><a class=\"answer-back\" href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers\">Answers</a><h1>Can we involuntarily admit a family member in a crisis?</h1><div class=\"answer-credits\"><a class=\"answer-credit-person\" href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/allan-schwartz\"><img src=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/assets/optimized/3f1145a76c69b3ca318ecb8b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"><span><span class=\"answer-credit-role\">Written by</span><span class=\"answer-credit-name\">Allan Schwartz, Ph.D.</span></span></a><a class=\"answer-credit-person\" href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson\"><img src=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/assets/optimized/73305651cb93afbdebb69a9a.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"><span><span class=\"answer-credit-role\">Medically reviewed by</span><span class=\"answer-credit-name\">Jesse Hanson, Ph.D.</span></span></a></div><dl class=\"answer-heading-dates\"><div><dt>Published</dt><dd><time datetime=\"2025-07-18T10:44:25Z\">July 18, 2025</time></dd></div><div><dt>Updated</dt><dd><time datetime=\"2026-06-08T09:03:55Z\">June 8, 2026</time></dd></div><div><dt>Reviewed</dt><dd><time datetime=\"2025-09-15\">September 15, 2025</time></dd></div></dl></header><nav class=\"answer-nav\" aria-label=\"Answer navigation\"><a href=\"#summary\">Summary</a><a href=\"#question\">Question</a><a href=\"#answer\">Answer</a></nav><article class=\"prose\" id=\"article-content\" data-answer-thread aria-label=\"Reader question and professional response\"><section class=\"answer-overview\" id=\"summary\" aria-labelledby=\"summary-title\"><h2 id=\"summary-title\">Summary</h2><figure class=\"answer-question-image\"><img src=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/assets/optimized/3a28cf29b89c00bc63d5e6d5.webp\" alt=\"An open walkway outside a bright medical building\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\"></figure><p>A family describes a father making explicit violent threats with a weapon and later denying the incident. They ask how to obtain urgent help when he is unlikely to consent to treatment.</p><p>The response treats the reported threat as an emergency and urges contacting emergency services and communicating the specific behavior.</p><p>It explains that clinicians need to assess possible causes, such as medical illness, substances, or psychiatric symptoms, rather than assuming one diagnosis or treating temporary calm as proof that the danger has passed.</p></section><div class=\"answer-originals\" id=\"original-conversation\"><div class=\"answer-originals-body\"><section class=\"answer-post answer-question\" id=\"question\" aria-labelledby=\"question-person\"><div class=\"answer-avatar answer-reader\" aria-hidden=\"true\">?</div><div class=\"answer-post-content\"><header class=\"answer-person\"><h2 id=\"question-person\">Question</h2><span>Reader · Identity withheld</span></header><p>My father appears to be experiencing a <a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/library/crisis-intervention\" class=\"article-inline-link\">serious mental health crisis</a>. He has never been diagnosed with any <a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/library/mental-disorders\" class=\"article-inline-link\">mental illness</a> to our knowledge but his recent behavior is deeply concerning. We believe he urgently needs professional help before someone gets hurt. He is clearly acting in a deranged and dangerous manner.</p>\n<p>We fear that if we call the police and no immediate action is taken to remove him from the home, he may harm someone. We want him to be admitted to a <a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/rehab\" class=\"article-inline-link\">mental health facility</a> but we are certain he will refuse treatment voluntarily. Is it possible to have him admitted without his consent? Who should we contact, and what steps do we need to take?</p>\n<p>Last night, he stripped naked and woke everyone by screaming, “I am going to kill you all,” while holding a butcher’s knife. This morning, when we confronted him about his actions, he denied even holding the knife.</p>\n<p>-Seeking Help</p></div></section><section class=\"answer-post answer-response\" id=\"answer\" aria-labelledby=\"response-person\"><a class=\"answer-avatar\" href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/allan-schwartz\" aria-label=\"View Allan Schwartz, Ph.D. profile\"><img src=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/assets/optimized/3f1145a76c69b3ca318ecb8b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"44\" height=\"44\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"></a><div class=\"answer-post-content\"><header class=\"answer-person\"><h2 id=\"response-person\">Answer</h2><span>Allan Schwartz, Ph.D.</span></header><p>Dear Seeking Help</p>\n<p>Yes, there are times when a person can be taken to the hospital against their will and those times are when an individual is a danger to their self or to other people. Your father was clearly out of control and was a very real threat to members of the family. You report that last night he was wielding a knife, stripped naked screaming that he was going to kill everyone in the house. What you should have done and what you can still do is call 911 and report that your father is behaving in a mentally ill way, wielding a knife and threatening to kill the family.</p>\n<p>Under those circumstances there would have been no question that he would have been taken to the emergency room and held for 72 hours for evaluation.</p>\n<p>After that time he would have been placed in a psychiatric hospital unless the Doctors believed he was no longer a threat. Considering the seriousness of what you report, I doubt he would be sent home anytime soon. You can still do this because even though he might be calmer now it could happen again tonight and everyone at home is fearful. It is important that you act quickly.</p>\n<p>The question is what is happening to your father? If he is using drugs he will be sent to a hospital for detox and released. If he is becoming demented due to <a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/library/alzheimers-disease\" class=\"article-inline-link\">Alzheimer’s Disease</a> or some other process he will be treated and recommendations will be made to the family. If he has always been mentally ill and this is a relapse they will send him to a psychiatric hospital and <a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/library/medications\" class=\"article-inline-link\">medicate him until he is stable again</a>. These are just a few of the possibilities.</p>\n<p>Best of luck.</p></div></section></div></div></article><div class=\"answer-endmatter\"><section class=\"article-expert answer-expert-card\" aria-label=\"Subject matter expert\" data-expert-kind=\"related\"><a class=\"answer-card-avatar\" href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/erin-george\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img src=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/assets/optimized/3e6614c23a1205b91bc9e56a.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"64\" height=\"64\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"></a><div class=\"answer-expert-copy\"><p class=\"article-bio-role\">Subject matter expert</p><h2><a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/erin-george\">Erin L. George</a></h2><p class=\"article-expert-focus\">Family therapy and family relationships</p><a class=\"profile-experience-link experience-button\" href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/erin-george\">View experience</a></div></section><section class=\"article-topic-community\" aria-label=\"Related communities\"><img class=\"topic-community-banner\" src=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/assets/optimized/7713bcd5449515f7e5815374.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"><p class=\"topic-community-label\">Related communities</p><h2>Crisis Intervention</h2><p>Find information and perspectives about mental health crises and the people who provide support.</p><a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/community/crisis-intervention\">Explore community</a></section><section class=\"answer-author-card answer-reviewer-card\"><a class=\"answer-card-avatar\" href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/allan-schwartz\"><img src=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/assets/optimized/3f1145a76c69b3ca318ecb8b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"64\" height=\"64\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"></a><div><span class=\"answer-reviewer-label\">Author</span><h2><a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/allan-schwartz\">Allan Schwartz, Ph.D.</a></h2><p>Allan Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D., is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 30 years of private practice experience.</p><a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/allan-schwartz\" class=\"profile-experience-link experience-button\">View experience</a></div></section><section class=\"answer-author-card answer-reviewer-card\"><a class=\"answer-card-avatar\" href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson\"><img src=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/assets/optimized/73305651cb93afbdebb69a9a.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"64\" height=\"64\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"></a><div><span class=\"answer-reviewer-label\">Medical reviewer</span><h2><a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson\">Jesse Hanson, Ph.D.</a></h2><p>Jesse Hanson, Ph.D., is a clinical and somatic psychologist with over 20 years of experience in neuropsychology, specializing in integrative, mind-body…</p><a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson\" class=\"profile-experience-link experience-button\">View experience</a></div></section><section class=\"answer-related\"><h2>Related questions</h2><a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/trauma-and-drama-why-are-friends-and-family-rejecting-me\">How can I cope with friends and family rejecting me after trauma?</a><a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/my-girlfriends-family-is-ruining-our-relationship\">What should I do if my girlfriend’s family is destroying our relationship?</a><a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/husband-jealous-of-my-friends-and-family\">Why does my husband get jealous of my friends and family?</a></section></div></div>","text":"HomeAnswersCan we involuntarily admit a family member in a crisis?AnswersCan we involuntarily admit a family member in a crisis?Written byAllan Schwartz, Ph.D.Medically reviewed byJesse Hanson, Ph.D.PublishedJuly 18, 2025UpdatedJune 8, 2026ReviewedSeptember 15, 2025SummaryQuestionAnswerSummaryA family describes a father making explicit violent threats with a weapon and later denying the incident. They ask how to obtain urgent help when he is unlikely to consent to treatment.The response treats the reported threat as an emergency and urges contacting emergency services and communicating the specific behavior.It explains that clinicians need to assess possible causes, such as medical illness, substances, or psychiatric symptoms, rather than assuming one diagnosis or treating temporary calm as proof that the danger has passed.?QuestionReader · Identity withheldMy father appears to be experiencing a serious mental health crisis. He has never been diagnosed with any mental illness to our knowledge but his recent behavior is deeply concerning. We believe he urgently needs professional help before someone gets hurt. He is clearly acting in a deranged and dangerous manner. We fear that if we call the police and no immediate action is taken to remove him from the home, he may harm someone. We want him to be admitted to a mental health facility but we are certain he will refuse treatment voluntarily. Is it possible to have him admitted without his consent? Who should we contact, and what steps do we need to take? Last night, he stripped naked and woke everyone by screaming, “I am going to kill you all,” while holding a butcher’s knife. This morning, when we confronted him about his actions, he denied even holding the knife. -Seeking HelpAnswerAllan Schwartz, Ph.D.Dear Seeking Help Yes, there are times when a person can be taken to the hospital against their will and those times are when an individual is a danger to their self or to other people. Your father was clearly out of control and was a very real threat to members of the family. You report that last night he was wielding a knife, stripped naked screaming that he was going to kill everyone in the house. What you should have done and what you can still do is call 911 and report that your father is behaving in a mentally ill way, wielding a knife and threatening to kill the family. Under those circumstances there would have been no question that he would have been taken to the emergency room and held for 72 hours for evaluation. After that time he would have been placed in a psychiatric hospital unless the Doctors believed he was no longer a threat. Considering the seriousness of what you report, I doubt he would be sent home anytime soon. You can still do this because even though he might be calmer now it could happen again tonight and everyone at home is fearful. It is important that you act quickly. The question is what is happening to your father? If he is using drugs he will be sent to a hospital for detox and released. If he is becoming demented due to Alzheimer’s Disease or some other process he will be treated and recommendations will be made to the family. If he has always been mentally ill and this is a relapse they will send him to a psychiatric hospital and medicate him until he is stable again. These are just a few of the possibilities. Best of luck.Subject matter expertErin L. GeorgeFamily therapy and family relationshipsView experienceRelated communitiesCrisis InterventionFind information and perspectives about mental health crises and the people who provide support.Explore communityAuthorAllan Schwartz, Ph.D.Allan Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D., is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 30 years of private practice experience.View experienceMedical reviewerJesse Hanson, Ph.D.Jesse Hanson, Ph.D., is a clinical and somatic psychologist with over 20 years of experience in neuropsychology, specializing in integrative, mind-body…View experienceRelated questionsHow can I cope with friends and family rejecting me after trauma?What should I do if my girlfriend’s family is destroying our relationship?Why does my husband get jealous of my friends and family?","wordCount":670},"schema":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/#organization","name":"MentalHealth.com","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/#website","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/","name":"MentalHealth.com","inLanguage":"en-US","publisher":{"@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/#organization"}},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/help-for-dealing-with-a-deranged-father-tips-advice#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Answers","item":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Can we involuntarily admit a family member in a crisis?","item":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/help-for-dealing-with-a-deranged-father-tips-advice"}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/help-for-dealing-with-a-deranged-father-tips-advice#primaryimage","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/assets/optimized/3a28cf29b89c00bc63d5e6d5.webp","contentUrl":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/assets/optimized/3a28cf29b89c00bc63d5e6d5.webp","width":1000,"height":667,"encodingFormat":"image/webp","caption":"An open walkway outside a bright medical building"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/allan-schwartz#person","name":"Allan Schwartz, Ph.D.","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/allan-schwartz","jobTitle":"LCSW, Ph.D.","image":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/assets/optimized/3f1145a76c69b3ca318ecb8b.jpg"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson#person","name":"Jesse Hanson, Ph.D.","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson","jobTitle":"Clinical Affairs Director","image":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/assets/optimized/73305651cb93afbdebb69a9a.jpg","sameAs":["https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-hanson-phd-7215216/"]},{"@type":"Article","@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/help-for-dealing-with-a-deranged-father-tips-advice#article","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/help-for-dealing-with-a-deranged-father-tips-advice","headline":"Can we involuntarily admit a family member in a crisis?","description":"A family describes a father making explicit violent threats with a weapon and later denying the incident.","wordCount":545,"mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/help-for-dealing-with-a-deranged-father-tips-advice#webpage"},"publisher":{"@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/#organization"},"articleSection":"Answers","inLanguage":"en-US","datePublished":"2025-07-18T10:44:25Z","dateModified":"2026-06-08T09:03:55Z","author":[{"@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/allan-schwartz#person"}],"image":{"@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/help-for-dealing-with-a-deranged-father-tips-advice#primaryimage"},"hasPart":[{"@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/help-for-dealing-with-a-deranged-father-tips-advice#question"},{"@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/help-for-dealing-with-a-deranged-father-tips-advice#answer"}]},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/help-for-dealing-with-a-deranged-father-tips-advice#question","name":"Can we involuntarily admit a family member in a crisis?","text":"My father appears to be experiencing a serious mental health crisis. He has never been diagnosed with any mental illness to our knowledge but his recent behavior is deeply concerning. We believe he urgently needs professional help before someone gets hurt. He is clearly acting in a deranged and dangerous manner. We fear that if we call the police and no immediate action is taken to remove him from the home, he may harm someone. We want him to be admitted to a mental health facility but we are certain he will refuse treatment voluntarily. Is it possible to have him admitted without his consent? Who should we contact, and what steps do we need to take? Last night, he stripped naked and woke everyone by screaming, “I am going to kill you all,” while holding a butcher’s knife. This morning, when we confronted him about his actions, he denied even holding the knife. -Seeking Help","acceptedAnswer":{"@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/help-for-dealing-with-a-deranged-father-tips-advice#answer"},"inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/help-for-dealing-with-a-deranged-father-tips-advice#question","answerCount":1},{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/help-for-dealing-with-a-deranged-father-tips-advice#answer","text":"Dear Seeking Help Yes, there are times when a person can be taken to the hospital against their will and those times are when an individual is a danger to their self or to other people. Your father was clearly out of control and was a very real threat to members of the family. You report that last night he was wielding a knife, stripped naked screaming that he was going to kill everyone in the house. What you should have done and what you can still do is call 911 and report that your father is behaving in a mentally ill way, wielding a knife and threatening to kill the family. Under those circumstances there would have been no question that he would have been taken to the emergency room and held for 72 hours for evaluation. After that time he would have been placed in a psychiatric hospital unless the Doctors believed he was no longer a threat. Considering the seriousness of what you report, I doubt he would be sent home anytime soon. You can still do this because even though he might be calmer now it could happen again tonight and everyone at home is fearful. It is important that you act quickly. The question is what is happening to your father? If he is using drugs he will be sent to a hospital for detox and released. If he is becoming demented due to Alzheimer’s Disease or some other process he will be treated and recommendations will be made to the family. If he has always been mentally ill and this is a relapse they will send him to a psychiatric hospital and medicate him until he is stable again. These are just a few of the possibilities. Best of luck.","author":{"@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/allan-schwartz#person"},"inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/help-for-dealing-with-a-deranged-father-tips-advice#answer"},{"@type":"MedicalWebPage","@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/help-for-dealing-with-a-deranged-father-tips-advice#webpage","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/help-for-dealing-with-a-deranged-father-tips-advice","name":"Can we involuntarily admit a family member in a crisis?","description":"A family describes a father making explicit violent threats with a weapon and later denying the 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byAllan Schwartz, Ph.D."},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson","label":"Medically reviewed byJesse Hanson, Ph.D."},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/help-for-dealing-with-a-deranged-father-tips-advice#summary","label":"Summary"},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/help-for-dealing-with-a-deranged-father-tips-advice#question","label":"Question"},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/help-for-dealing-with-a-deranged-father-tips-advice#answer","label":"Answer"},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/library/crisis-intervention","label":"serious mental health crisis"},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/library/mental-disorders","label":"mental illness"},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/rehab","label":"mental health facility"},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/allan-schwartz","label":""},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/library/alzheimers-disease","label":"Alzheimer’s Disease"},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/library/medications","label":"medicate him until he is stable again"},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/erin-george","label":""},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/erin-george","label":"Erin L. George"},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/erin-george","label":"View experience"},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/community/crisis-intervention","label":"Explore community"},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/allan-schwartz","label":""},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/allan-schwartz","label":"Allan Schwartz, Ph.D."},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/allan-schwartz","label":"View experience"},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson","label":""},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson","label":"Jesse Hanson, Ph.D."},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson","label":"View experience"},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/trauma-and-drama-why-are-friends-and-family-rejecting-me","label":"How can I cope with friends and family rejecting me after trauma?"},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/my-girlfriends-family-is-ruining-our-relationship","label":"What should I do if my girlfriend’s family is destroying our relationship?"},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/husband-jealous-of-my-friends-and-family","label":"Why does my husband get jealous of my friends and family?"}],"conversation":{"status":"complete","summary":{"question":"A family describes a father making explicit violent threats with a weapon and later denying the incident. They ask how to obtain urgent help when he is unlikely to consent to treatment.","answer":"The response treats the reported threat as an emergency and urges contacting emergency services and communicating the specific behavior. It explains that clinicians need to assess possible causes, such as medical illness, substances, or psychiatric symptoms, rather than assuming one diagnosis or treating temporary calm as proof that the danger has passed."},"sourceUrl":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/help-for-dealing-with-a-deranged-father-tips-advice","sourceReviewer":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson#person","name":"Jesse Hanson, Ph.D.","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson"},"question":{"id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/help-for-dealing-with-a-deranged-father-tips-advice#question","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/help-for-dealing-with-a-deranged-father-tips-advice#question","html":"<p>My father appears to be experiencing a <a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/library/crisis-intervention\">serious mental health crisis</a>. He has never been diagnosed with any <a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/library/mental-disorders\">mental illness</a> to our knowledge but his recent behavior is deeply concerning. We believe he urgently needs professional help before someone gets hurt. He is clearly acting in a deranged and dangerous manner.</p>\n<p>We fear that if we call the police and no immediate action is taken to remove him from the home, he may harm someone. We want him to be admitted to a <a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/rehab\">mental health facility</a> but we are certain he will refuse treatment voluntarily. Is it possible to have him admitted without his consent? Who should we contact, and what steps do we need to take?</p>\n<p>Last night, he stripped naked and woke everyone by screaming, “I am going to kill you all,” while holding a butcher’s knife. This morning, when we confronted him about his actions, he denied even holding the knife.</p>\n<p>-Seeking Help</p>","text":"My father appears to be experiencing a serious mental health crisis. He has never been diagnosed with any mental illness to our knowledge but his recent behavior is deeply concerning. We believe he urgently needs professional help before someone gets hurt. He is clearly acting in a deranged and dangerous manner. We fear that if we call the police and no immediate action is taken to remove him from the home, he may harm someone. We want him to be admitted to a mental health facility but we are certain he will refuse treatment voluntarily. Is it possible to have him admitted without his consent? Who should we contact, and what steps do we need to take? Last night, he stripped naked and woke everyone by screaming, “I am going to kill you all,” while holding a butcher’s knife. This morning, when we confronted him about his actions, he denied even holding the knife. -Seeking Help"},"answer":{"id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/help-for-dealing-with-a-deranged-father-tips-advice#answer","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/help-for-dealing-with-a-deranged-father-tips-advice#answer","html":"<p>Dear Seeking Help</p>\n<p>Yes, there are times when a person can be taken to the hospital against their will and those times are when an individual is a danger to their self or to other people. Your father was clearly out of control and was a very real threat to members of the family. You report that last night he was wielding a knife, stripped naked screaming that he was going to kill everyone in the house. What you should have done and what you can still do is call 911 and report that your father is behaving in a mentally ill way, wielding a knife and threatening to kill the family.</p>\n<p>Under those circumstances there would have been no question that he would have been taken to the emergency room and held for 72 hours for evaluation.</p>\n<p>After that time he would have been placed in a psychiatric hospital unless the Doctors believed he was no longer a threat. Considering the seriousness of what you report, I doubt he would be sent home anytime soon. You can still do this because even though he might be calmer now it could happen again tonight and everyone at home is fearful. It is important that you act quickly.</p>\n<p>The question is what is happening to your father? If he is using drugs he will be sent to a hospital for detox and released. If he is becoming demented due to <a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/library/alzheimers-disease\">Alzheimer’s Disease</a> or some other process he will be treated and recommendations will be made to the family. If he has always been mentally ill and this is a relapse they will send him to a psychiatric hospital and <a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/library/medications\">medicate him until he is stable again</a>. These are just a few of the possibilities.</p>\n<p>Best of luck.</p>","text":"Dear Seeking Help Yes, there are times when a person can be taken to the hospital against their will and those times are when an individual is a danger to their self or to other people. Your father was clearly out of control and was a very real threat to members of the family. You report that last night he was wielding a knife, stripped naked screaming that he was going to kill everyone in the house. What you should have done and what you can still do is call 911 and report that your father is behaving in a mentally ill way, wielding a knife and threatening to kill the family. Under those circumstances there would have been no question that he would have been taken to the emergency room and held for 72 hours for evaluation. After that time he would have been placed in a psychiatric hospital unless the Doctors believed he was no longer a threat. Considering the seriousness of what you report, I doubt he would be sent home anytime soon. You can still do this because even though he might be calmer now it could happen again tonight and everyone at home is fearful. It is important that you act quickly. The question is what is happening to your father? If he is using drugs he will be sent to a hospital for detox and released. If he is becoming demented due to Alzheimer’s Disease or some other process he will be treated and recommendations will be made to the family. If he has always been mentally ill and this is a relapse they will send him to a psychiatric hospital and medicate him until he is stable again. These are just a few of the possibilities. Best of luck.","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/allan-schwartz#person","name":"Allan Schwartz, Ph.D.","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/allan-schwartz"}},"summaryScope":"Editorial overview of the original question and response; original review dates apply to the source conversation."},"presentation":{"updatedAt":"2026-10-03","template":"answer-conversation","imageGeneratedAt":"2026-10-03"},"seo":{"title":"Can we involuntarily admit a family member | MentalHealth.com","description":"A family describes a father making explicit violent threats with a weapon and later denying the incident.","canonical":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/help-for-dealing-with-a-deranged-father-tips-advice","robots":"index,follow","socialImage":{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/assets/optimized/f7d19272dd5d30590dddbab9.png","width":1200,"height":630,"alt":"MentalHealth.com — Answers","type":"image/png","sitemapGroup":"answers"}},"subjectMatterExpert":{"name":"Erin L. George","url":"/people/erin-george","profileId":"7826","topic":"grief","focus":"Family therapy and family relationships","selectionBasis":"Documented expertise in the existing published profile","reviewAttribution":false},"navigation":[],"relatedCommunity":{"community":"/community/crisis-intervention","basis":"topic match"},"collections":[]}