LIVERMORE FALLS, Maine — One father is trying to help other families avoid the pain he's faced with after his son was hit and killed by a train last week in Portland.
Bob Staples said investigators still have not determined exactly why 34-year-old Brett Staples was on the tracks, but Bob said he believes it has something to do with Brett's mental illness. Brett had schizoaffective disorder, which combines symptoms of schizophrenia and mood disorder.
"We can't help Brett," Bob said. "But if we can help someone else with awareness, maybe it won't be all in vain."
Bob said he has learned over the past week about mental health resources offered in our state that he believes could have made a difference in his son's life, had his family known sooner about what was available.
Bob said he had never heard about the state's Progressive Treatment Program, for example, until it was too late.
PTP is a court-ordered treatment program to help people with complex mental health needs by connecting them with a treatment plan and psychiatric care.
“It’s worked in so many cases. Why not have it work more?" former state Sen. John Nutting, now mental health advocate with the organization National Shattering Silence Coalition, said.
Nutting co-sponsored a bill that created the program about 20 years ago but said too many families still aren't aware it even exists.
“We were just thunderstruck that that program [PTP] was there, and it would have helped him. He most likely would be alive today if we’d have known, and we didn’t," Bob said.
Bob said his son was previously homeless in Portland, then had been hospitalized for an injury. Brett had done very well in the hospital, as Bob said being on a treatment plan and on a routine helped Brett. With that in mind, Bob said he believes this treatment program and ongoing care could have been the missing piece.
"If we would have known years ago about this program and been able to get him into it, what could he be doing now?" Bob said. "It's not going to help Brett, but can we help someone else?"
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, there are resources right here in Maine that can help navigate through those thoughts and find a path to hope.
Maine Crisis Hotline: 1-888-568-1112
Maine teen text support
This peer support text line is for Maine youth 13 to 24 years old and is staffed by individuals 18 to 24. Talk about your feelings and get support from another young person. Daily from noon to 10 p.m. EST at 207-515-8398