San Francisco supervisors strike deal to expand forced treatment of mentally ill

[RandySF]

San Francisco supervisors struck a deal Monday to support a controversial law that would expand the city’s ability to force seriously mentally ill people into care — but the plan will likely help only about five people.

The Board of Supervisors is expected to approve the legislation on Tuesday, following months of debate over how the city should deal with severely mentally ill people on the streets. The supervisors battled for months over the proposal. But even the legislation’s most ardent supporters say it isn’t the answer to the city’s broken behavioral health care system.

The proposal expands the definition of who is eligible for conservatorship, which is court-ordered mental health treatment. If it passes, the city can impose in-patient treatment on someone if they are severely mentally ill, addicted to drugs and have been taken to an emergency crisis unit — known as a 5150 hold — at least eight times in a year.

While the city’s Department of Public Health estimates the expanded law would help only about five people, the board was fractured over whether the city’s already clogged mental health care system could adequately help more patients.



https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/San-Francisco-supervisors-strike-deal-to-expand-13927637.php?psid=8Llrw

[lindysalsagal]

1. Not an expert on the subject but I've been in san fran

and had encounters with violent men on public transportation, possibly mentally ill or on drugs. It's out of control.

Not sure what the solution is, though.

They're up and down the streets.

Lots of reasons, not sure what solutions would really help. But there should be some kind of government intervention, and I would think that 8 holds a year would be well into the territory for government help of some kind.

I guess I wish there were some kind of housing and health care option, but i understand some people don't comply with rules and regulations.

[mopinko]

2. rules and regs make little sense to the seriously ill.

but some places are approaching this w a housing first model.
one of the hospitals in chi actually invested in housing for some of their "frequent flyers" in their er.
it's been a huge success. as long as they are on the streets, they are further traumatized. get them a safe place to stay, and some support services, and they can make much better decisions.

but as someone who tried to get a family member into treatment, it is so damn hard. esp w paranoia.
cops are getting better at dealing w this stuff, but there has to be some sort of way.

[RoadMan]

7. lack of nutrition, shelter, drug/alcohol abuse, stigmatization,

and plain old mean, rotten loneliness.

Basic problems that a wealthy society should be able to solve.

BUT, real/healthy food is very expensive, a 400 square foot dump commands palatial rents, booze is the lingua franca of our culture, getting help puts you in the system (which is a very scary place), and reactionaries have all but destroyed any concept of community where people can help each other out (unless you're small town rural white - and you better have been born there and your father and your grandfather, plus you need some familial connection to land ownership), even if it's just a kind word.

I personally have no answers, I've struggled with some of these problems.

You almost need superhuman will to overcome most of the adversity you come across.

[winetourdriver01]

3. Complex isssue

It is. I have a close friend who has a personality disorder. There is a "crew" in his head that dictates his decisions. I've done my best to be a help, and over two years we got to be close. The issue for me, besides being a friend, was keeping a roof over his head, somehow, someway. The "crew" was unhelpful, to say the least. They finally succeeded in ending our friendship, and he is now on the streets of San Francisco. He is quite careful with the police, careful of what he carries on him. I still worry very much about him ending up in jail, or in the happy house. It's been hard on me, and I have no idea if this plan would help him or not. It's been very difficult.

[RandySF]

4. I see a lot people on the street

who are clearly incapable of making any decisions for themselves.

[UniteFightBack]

6. You're a good friend.

[hunter]

5. This is a national problem and should be dealt with as such.

The mentally ill homeless migrate to places where they can survive -- places where they won't freeze to death or starve to death, places they are less likely to be beaten up, raped, or killed.

Every city in the nation with a population of 50,000 or more needs a federally funded "housing first" program to assist people suffering addiction and mental health problems. Treatment begins with a safe, secure place to sleep.

This would take pressure off the cities that people suffering mental illnesses and addictions frequently migrate too.