New York City Mayor's New Mandatory Treatment Policy for Mentally Ill Targets Homeless People
Mayor Eric Adams spoke about the details of the program for the compulsory treatment of mentally ill people. Here are the important provisions that are causing controversy:
1. If a homeless person refuses to leave the subway or other public place, then the policeman, even against his will, can send the offender for examination to a mental hospital
2.Emergency personnel have the right to hospitalize anyone who is “unable to care for themselves.” This decision is made even if the person does not show violence towards others
3. Due to the lack of beds in mental hospitals, it will be impossible to keep homeless people in medical institutions for a long time. Therefore, after some time they return to the street again
4. Some police officers are afraid of the correctness of their actions in relation to the homeless. NYPD officers will have access to a hotline with mental health professionals
5.According to the New York Homeless Association, more than 60 thousand people sleep in homeless shelters every day. And this is 50% more than ten years ago.
Author: Denis Cheredov
