Privacy laws prevent families of adults with mental illness from both finding and helping them when they are in need. Hospitals can't tell a family member if the adult with a mental illness is in their hospital or not because of privacy laws. Doctors can not speak to family members about the mental health of an adult family member because of privacy laws. Family members can not take care of immediate needs for an adult with mental illness because of privacy laws including maintaining basic needs while the adult family member is hospitalized which contributes to homelessness after they are released. Family members can not assist an adult family member with mental illness with any legal issues because of privacy laws.
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