As a person in longterm recovery from mental illness and addiction, the opinion piece regarding mental health alarmed me. It reflected a hopelessness stemming from old-fashioned, paternalistic ideas about mental illness treatment. These misguided beliefs historically caused horrific abuses, at exorbitant costs. We learned from that, and now balance personal and public safety with basic human rights. We know that people can, do and will recover when provided with adequately funded recovery-based community services.
• The only adjustment the current forced-treatment protocol needs is increased funding for community-based respite beds.
• Hospitalization is the most expensive form of treatment that serves the least amount of people.
• People with mental illness do willingly seek out treatment.
The sentiments expressed, supported by out-of-state extremists, have led to a dangerous suite of proposed legislation, including SB 5720, that promote increasing forced hospitalization, eliminating access to attorneys, and, yes, even forced electric shock.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Olmstead v. L.C. demands that public institutions provide community-based services to people with mental illness who desire them. Let’s help those people get out of hospitals, rather than forcing more in.
