(June 18, 2015) The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to authorize Laura’s Law this week, making court-ordered outpatient treatment possible for those at risk individuals with serious mental illness who meet the state’s strict criteria.
San Mateo has some of the most robust mental health resources in California, providing a spectrum of care to mentally ill residents, but the lack of Laura’s Law has reduced access to treatment for its citizens with the most severe psychiatric diseases.
This will fill the gap between placing an individual under a conservatorship and those who are not receiving treatment at all, Supervisor Adrienne Tissier said.
First enacted in 2002, Laura’s Law provides for court-ordered outpatient treatment for individuals with a severe mental illness, but only operates in counties where the board of supervisors authorizes its application.
Now over half of the population of California, representing over 19.5 million people, has access to Laura’s Law.
Laura’s Law is a less-restrictive alternative to involuntary hospitalization. Left untreated, people with severe mental illness often suffer from delusions, hallucinations and paranoia to the point where they may end up committing suicide, living on the streets or other degrading circumstances.
We offer heartfelt thank-yous to the advocates who work tirelessly to pass Laura’s Law. Your hard work is paying off for families and people suffering from mental illness across the state.
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