AUGUSTA, Maine — Ever since the mass shootings in Lewiston that killed 18 people and injured 13 others, Mainers have been asking a lot of questions about how the tragedy happened. Most inquiries revolve around a failure in our state's mental health care system. Some people, though, say it's not necessarily a lack of programming that exists — but more so, a lack of proper utilization.
On Wednesday, members of the Maine chapter of the National Shattering Silence Coalition gathered in Augusta to speak out about the progressive treatment program. The PTP became law in 2010 and allows a psychiatric hospital, medical practitioner, law enforcement officer, or legal guardian to obtain a court order to demand a person suffering from schizophrenia or another brain disorder continue their treatment plan if that person poses a likelihood of serious harm.
John Nutting, a former Maine legislator—who was an original sponsor of the PTP bill—said the goal of the PTP is to help people struggling to get housing and a job and deal with their disorder rather than the alternative of ending up in jail or worse.
"Ideally, law enforcement and the health care community work hand in hand to [identify] who should be hospitalized and who should be under a PTP program," Nutting said.
The reason for Wednesday's meeting, though, is because Nutting says that isn't happening — and right now, only hospitals are handing out PTP orders. He said he has asked the Maine Department of Health and Human Services multiple times to train law enforcement officers to do the same but has not been successful.
"The Maine Sheriffs Association and Maine Chiefs of Police Association as of [Tuesday] are still waiting to be trained by the department in initiating a PTP order," Nutting said.
Nutting said he wonders whether the PTP would have prevented the Lewiston mass shootings from happening, since through an order, the court is allowed to take a patient's weapons. Yaicha Provencher, another member of the coalition, said learning the shooter's family tried to get him mental health help but failed was triggering because of her own personal experience.
"My desperate attempts to get treatment for my children’s father, Justin Butterfield, was either ignored or not taken seriously enough," Provencher said.
In November of 2022, Justin Butterfield, diagnosed with schizophrenia, murdered his brother. Provencher said she was devastated after trying to get him adequate help since 2018. She said she had never even heard of the PTP until it was too late.
"Justin was yet another case, another Mainer who was not given the right, the opportunity to have proper treatment for his brain disorder. He was never given the right to be well," Provencher said, noting Butterfield is now in prison.
Another member of the coalition, Laurie Turley, said her late sister had schizophrenia. She mentioned a term, anosognosia, in which a patient is unaware of his or her psychiatric condition. She said along with those battling schizophrenia, it also applies to people who have dementia or who have suffered strokes — but they're treated very differently.
"Why are people with schizophrenia or other brain illnesses taken to jail before they’re given help and treatment?" Turley asked.
NEWS CENTER Maine reached out to the Maine DHHS for comment. In an emailed statement, a spokesperson wrote, "The Department is always open to good ideas about how to help protect the health and safety of Maine people in conjunction with our partners. The Department has implemented the Progressive Treatment Program in accordance with the law. DHHS is deeply committed to working with law enforcement and the broader medical and behavioral health community to support individuals with complex mental health needs and to protect the safety and wellbeing of Maine people."
Nutting said the coalition is asking Governor Janet Mills to look into why the PTP wasn't utilized to stop the Lewiston mass shooter. This request would be part of an investigation the Governor has already said she will make happen.