Family members say Terrell Blake, the man killed by police after two shootings and a chase this week, suffered from years of mental illness.

According to community educator, Kristina Mossgraber of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, often times the one with the mental health condition is the victim.

“When somebody has an untreated illness it can lead to thoughts of taking their life, behaviors where someone is feeling hopeless and helpless," Mossgraber said.

The incident has also sparked the conversation of mental illness through the city. Unique Johnson, owner of The Doll House salon, was given up by her mother who suffered mental illness, says though it's hard to accept at first, it was for the better.

“When you’re grown and something doesn’t fell right or if you’re not comfortable you can kind of adjust your mood but when you’re a child, you can’t, you’re not there yet, mentally," Johnson said. "I was adopted by a really great woman; she’s the reason why I’m here.”

Johnson says she sees mental illness through the window of her business each day.

“One man — he comes by here, maybe, every day because he goes to the liquor store," Johnson said. "He talks to my picture on my door. I wanted to say something to him, but I was kind of afraid not knowing what kind of mood he might have been in because anybody talking to a picture has mental issue.”

Mossgraber says it’s important to respond sensitively to someone who seems troubled.

“The unfortunate part is that people are afraid to say something because they are afraid that they are going to make it worse," Mossgraber said. "I encourage people to, again, reach out and say something.”