(11-28-16) Most of us have strong opinions about involuntary psychiatric treatment and tomorrow (TUESDAY 11-29) at 11 a.m., it will be the topic on Diane Rehm’s popular NPR show.
I’ll be a guest along with Drs. Dinah Miller and Annette Hanson, co-authors of COMMITTED: The Battle Over Involuntary Psychiatric Care. 
In keeping with NPR’s promise of hearing all sides, Diane will interview two individuals with mental illness; one who has been helped by involuntary commitment and one who was traumatized by it. Please listen and join the discussion. Here is what the show has posted on its website about Tuesday’s hour long program:
Many mental health experts say forcing someone into psychiatric care against their will can be necessary to protect people dangerous to themselves and others. But in some certain cases it is illegal, and some see involuntary commitment as a violation of someone’s civil rights. A look at how patients can be both helped and traumatized by involuntary psychiatric care, and what the data indicates about its role in preventing violence, suicide and mass murder.
HELPING FAMILIES IN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS ACT TO BE VOTED ON THIS WEEK, REP. TIM MURPHY CLAIMS MAJOR VICTORY
Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA.) announced late last Friday that a version of his Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act (HR 2646) and Rep. Fred Upton’s (R.-Mich.) 21st Century Cures Act (H.R. 6) have been merged into one package that will be voted on sometime this coming week, possibly as early as Tuesday. I wrote about this commingling of bills ten days ago and will be posting an analysis of the bill after it is passed. Meanwhile….
Congressman Murphy released the following statement:
“This is a landmark moment. The federal government’s course in addressing mental health and illness in America is being fundamentally changed. Congress has finally come together in a bipartisan effort to bring serious mental illness out of the shadows. Now federal agencies will be moving from feel-good programs for behavioral wellness to ones that emphasize evidence-based care for those at highest risk and those with symptoms of serious mental illness. We’ve achieved long-sought reforms by creating an Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use to elevate, integrate and coordinate programs; investing in services for the most difficult to treat cases; expanding the mental health workforce, and so much more.
“It couldn’t be more fitting that we’ve reached this bipartisan agreement between the House and Senate at the close of Thanksgiving week. I am tremendously grateful for everyone who joined in the cause because we wouldn’t be here if not for the unwavering efforts of the of the families, caregivers, providers and organizations that worked tirelessly to fix our broken mental health system. We won’t solve it all in in one bill and we didn’t get everything we needed, but we needed everything we got. It is my pledge to the patients and families in crisis that I will never stop fighting to deliver treatment before tragedy for those most in need.”
The Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act unanimously passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee, 53-0, in June and passed the U.S. House of Representatives, 422-2, in July More information on the bill can be found here.
MY NEW NOVEL TREASON CONTINUES TO SELL AS CHRISTMAS GIFT: LISTEN TO DRAMATIC 30 SECOND RADIO AD
If someone on your Christmas list is interested in reading an action adventure novel — think Jason Bourne meets House of Cards — please consider buying TREASON, my new novel about terrorism written with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. The publisher is now advertising it in a dramatic radio ad that I want to share with you. Take a listen and thank you! Writing books enables me to continue my mental health advocacy!
About the author:
