Ban Involuntary Commitment in All States
Involuntary psychiatric commitment both harms patients and costs the government unnecessary amounts.
Involuntary commitment (also known as civil commitment) is the psychiatric commitment of an individual against his or her will because of a suspected or actual psychiatric issue. While this measure is designed to ensure public safety, this harms more people than it helps. As a victim, I have experienced this first-hand. It violates personal autonomy by forcing a person to be institutionalized and treated, despite any protest. Patients feel their dignity being stripped away, subject to isolation from their families and friends and treatment from medical professionals against their will. The measures keeping state and county hospitals running for such purposes only costs more and more money for the taxpayers and the government, the same money that can be delegated to other priorities. The only way to ensure that mental health patients keep their sense of autonomy and dignity, as well as reduce government spending, is for Congress pass laws to ban involuntary commitment.
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