Sacramento Hospitals Brace for Jump in Psychiatric Cases

Sacramento County could close the crisis unit at its Mental Health Treatment Center as soon as Friday, sparking concerns among local hospitals about an influx of patients seeking treatment for mental illnesses in hospital emergency departments.  Hospitals already have seen an increase in such cases as the center began curbing admissions.

• "Sacramento-Area Hospital Emergency Rooms Face Flood of Mentally Ill" (Hubert, Sacramento Bee, 10/1).