Current mental health laws offer impossible choices for anyone trying treat and care for the mentally ill. Families have no rights.
Although we recognize an individual's right for self-determination, many with mental illness do not understand that they are sick and do not seek care.
Currently the options are short term hospital stays and imprisonment, which are ill equipped to handle the problem and only further stigmatize the individual.
We need to fund a mental health facilities similar to drug treatment that can treat those who need help without shame, until they are stabilized. We can use money saved from a decreased prison population.
We also need to allow caregivers and loved ones to have the authority to recommend treatment, which may be court-ordered, if necessary