Hello, I’m Gebray…
At the age of 27-years-old, my oldest son was shot and killed by police while experiencing a psychotic episode. Over the past five years, I have struggled to understand how something so tragic happened. My response "try to help others like my son, Quintas Harris."
The media painted Quintas as a mentally disturbed black man who could not be calmed. Quintas, suffered from schizoaffective disorder as well as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although he tried to control it without medication it was too much for him and sadly led to his tragic death. Quintas served 28 months in the United States Navy. During that time, he fought in the war on terrorism. He received several medals. Upon his release he was never the same. He tried to adapt to civilian life but struggled.
His cry for help came out, but no one heard him. He began to tattoo his body with art that symbolized his journey and his struggle. However, to society he was just another insignificant black male. I point these things out to give you an idea of his freedom of expression and inform you that my son was significant to many regardless of how he was perceived or treated. Unfortunately, his inability to deal with his mental illness would later generate issues that would play out for his demise. My son didn't understand why people would judge you before getting to know you. He would say "Momma people shouldn't judge a book by its cover. If they open it, they just might find a good book!" Quintas continued to choose his right to be expressed -whoever he was -regardless of the backlash or persecution he received.
Quintas was a father, a brother, a friend to everyone he met, a veteran and a God-fearing man. He loved his family, people, and his country. He loved listening to music, laughing and cooking.
Tragically, on August 2, 2017, local police took his life. I woke up to a 6:45 am media broadcast on August 3rd announcing that a shooting had taken place in my son's apartment complex and a man in his early 20's had died. Instantly, I knew it was my son. I tried calling him and then local hospitals to find him. My husband and I drove to the reported hospital where we would later learn my son's body was taken to the County Medical Examiner’s office. I called the medical examiner’s office to arrange to come by so that a positive identification of my son’s body could be made. However, I was told an identification had already been made by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). I was baffled by the fact that a positive identification had been made and no one (i.e., local law enforcement, medical examiners'/coroners' office, hospital) had contacted me to say, "Mrs. Harris your son is dead."
Woefully, Quintas was pronounced dead at 12:50 am on August 3, 2017. Regrettably, when mental health problems go untreated it can lead to many negative or even dangerous outcomes among people diagnosed/undiagnosed with severe mental illnesses and their families.
Sadly, there are so many individuals like Quintas who suffer from untreated, undiagnosed mental health issues as well as unaddressed trauma. However, unlike Quintas, they do not have anyone to advocate or support them in finding treatment, resources, and services to begin and stay on a recovery journey. Notably, without support from family, friends or a professional, the journey becomes much more difficult. Unfortunately, they do not have someone to advocate and support them. For this reason, Finding Answers Inside the Home, Inc. was born. F.A.I.T.H is making a commitment to support community mental health and helping find treatment and other services for individuals with behavioral health conditions.
The pain that came with Quintas’ death remains after all these years. It has given me a strong desire to turn my tragedy into triumph. I hope that you will support F.A.I.T.H in our journey to improve access to social services within the behavioral health community. ~Each One Reach One
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