California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a bill that makes it easier for authorities to compel treatment for people with mental illness or addiction issues. The proposal is partly aimed at addressing the state’s growing homelessness crisis.
Forcing people is always the best way to get good results. 🙄
*** EDIT - Too many here seem to have forgotten that asylums were shut down in the 70’s and mental health patients shunted onto the streets to live without support networks in place.
There is a not unreasonable argument that allowing the mentally ill to “choose” to become addicted junkies living on the street in an extremely hostile and dangerous environment is not exactly the epitome of merciful empathy.
I have lived on the streets, lived in rooming houses and been a social worker. I have seen the worst, and most often that’s happened when people are forced into compliance … ie: jump through these 20 hoops to be “free”.
Given your experience what do you believe would be a good starting point towards caring for these individuals? What issues and solutions do you see that aren’t addressed? I understand I’m an outsider looking in on this issue, avoiding the mentality ill homeless like many others. But if my vote can go towards a better solutions I’d like to learn about them.
Given your experience what do you believe would be a good starting point towards caring for these individuals?
Housing first, then a guaranteed income. Right along side of those you have mental health workers and health workers visiting daily to assess the individual’s wants and needs. People have to be involved in their own lives, not just told what to do to “cure” themselves.
What issues and solutions do you see that aren’t addressed?
As a society we must stop condemning those who who are different, who don’t operate under the same rules as the gen pop. We have to start understanding that not everyone starts off with the same abilities and benefits, ie: an intact family structure, enough wealth to eat 3 times a day or go on a holiday.
We have to see everyone as valuable simply because they are a human being, and entitled to our respect and care for the same reason.
And we MUST immediately stop believing that money is in any way, shape or form more important than any person’s basic fundamental needs. Money is a tool to be used. People are not.
Well we the people don’t but I’d be rich if I bet that the police and the governments involved do. Maybe even the healthcare institutions that would be receiving them.
Keep the program in the light
This is it. The modern day ability to record and hold accountable could be used to prevent a return to Institutionalization ala pre-70s America.
Which monstrosity? The one where people with mental health issues but choose not to treat them are left homeless because the state can’t do anything to compel treatment?
Forcing people is always the best way to get good results. 🙄
*** EDIT - Too many here seem to have forgotten that asylums were shut down in the 70’s and mental health patients shunted onto the streets to live without support networks in place.
Stop trying to recreate those monstrosities.
There is a not unreasonable argument that allowing the mentally ill to “choose” to become addicted junkies living on the street in an extremely hostile and dangerous environment is not exactly the epitome of merciful empathy.
You’re right, it’s not. Locking them back up isn’t the solution, though.
As a Californian who also works in the ED, there are levels to mental illness. Clearly you haven’t seen the worst of it.
The problem is, how do you ensure this is only used for “the worst of it”?
I have lived on the streets, lived in rooming houses and been a social worker. I have seen the worst, and most often that’s happened when people are forced into compliance … ie: jump through these 20 hoops to be “free”.
Given your experience what do you believe would be a good starting point towards caring for these individuals? What issues and solutions do you see that aren’t addressed? I understand I’m an outsider looking in on this issue, avoiding the mentality ill homeless like many others. But if my vote can go towards a better solutions I’d like to learn about them.
Housing first, then a guaranteed income. Right along side of those you have mental health workers and health workers visiting daily to assess the individual’s wants and needs. People have to be involved in their own lives, not just told what to do to “cure” themselves.
As a society we must stop condemning those who who are different, who don’t operate under the same rules as the gen pop. We have to start understanding that not everyone starts off with the same abilities and benefits, ie: an intact family structure, enough wealth to eat 3 times a day or go on a holiday.
We have to see everyone as valuable simply because they are a human being, and entitled to our respect and care for the same reason.
And we MUST immediately stop believing that money is in any way, shape or form more important than any person’s basic fundamental needs. Money is a tool to be used. People are not.
Also who paying for the help? If state then fine but your telling these people to get help our else and not paying for it then fuck you.
No one wants to recreate that.
People were invisible, subjected to random unfounded experiments, abused, etc.
There’s an opportunity to keep the program in the light, and get people serious help.
Well we the people don’t but I’d be rich if I bet that the police and the governments involved do. Maybe even the healthcare institutions that would be receiving them.
This is it. The modern day ability to record and hold accountable could be used to prevent a return to Institutionalization ala pre-70s America.
Which monstrosity? The one where people with mental health issues but choose not to treat them are left homeless because the state can’t do anything to compel treatment?