Voluntary treatment for any medical condition is always preferable. However, because of the nature of mental illness, involuntary treatment and hospitalization is necessary in certain circumstances, especially if the illness has impacted that person’s ability to identify their own need for treatment.
Each state determines its own laws for when and how an individual can be required to receive treatment for mental illness. These laws, known as civil commitment laws or codes, must satisfy certain constitutional requirements, but otherwise may vary greatly from state to state.
Since the Treatment Advocacy Center’s founding, more than 30 states have reformed their civil commitment laws with our support. Such reforms ensure more people get better care, earlier.
But barriers to treatment remain, so our work goes on. Become an advocate and help us improve access to treatment for serious mental illness.
