Executive Director Lisa Dailey’s Statement on Gov. Newsom’s Recent Announcement
We applaud Gov. Newsom for his leadership on this urgent public health matter and for facing up unflinchingly to the reality of severe mental illness.
It is extraordinarily refreshing to see a public official recognize the inhumanity of our current system. Gov. Newsom's plan will increase access to mental health care by allowing more people to trigger the system's ability to act. His proposal will offer more people the ability to help those experiencing a mental health crisis, beyond voluntary ER visits or a police response.
As our research shows, people with untreated severe mental illness are 16 times more likely to be killed by police than other civilians. While civil liberties advocates may honestly believe that they are advocating for people with severe mental illness, by opposing all forms of involuntary treatment they are actually advocating on behalf of psychosis.
We recognize that helping more Californians gain access to treatment will require additional infrastructure. As a recent RAND Corporation report concluded, California faces a critical shortage of psychiatric treatment beds.
We stand ready to assist Gov. Newsom and local leaders with our research and expertise in order to help build the infrastructure necessary to implement the governor's plan. Read more about the plan here.