Bill Aims To Strengthen Laws Geared Toward Helping Mentally Ill Homeless Population
“Some will hear about this bill and assume we’re trying to sweep all homeless people into some kind of psychiatric commitment,” said state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-S.F.). “That is absolutely untrue."
KQED:
Bill Aims To Help Homeless Suffering From Severe Mental Illness, Drug Addiction
The bill intends to expand and strengthen California’s conservatorship laws that are currently limited to seniors vulnerable to abuse as well as people who are “gravely disabled” or have severe cognitive limitations. SB 1045 would give counties another option to address homeless individuals known as “frequent fliers” who are in and out of jail, emergency rooms and other government services. (Shafer, 2/12)
Meanwhile, in other mental health news —
KPBS:
Report: California Facing Major Shortage Of Behavioral Health Professionals
A new report from UC San Francisco's Healthforce Center finds if current trends continue, California will have 41 percent fewer psychiatrists than needed, and 11 percent fewer psychologists than needed by 2028. The aging of California behavioral health workforce is a major factor. (Goldberg, 2/13)