The perils within California's plan for the mentally ill

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California's new plan for the mentally ill is rife with problems By Oliver Staley Health Editor California has a greater homeless population than New York, Florida, and Washington—the next three states—combined. The tent cities and encampments in downtown San Francisco and Los Angeles represent a mounting public health emergency and a significant political headache for the state’s elected officials. Given that homelessness is often intertwined with substance abuse and mental illness, California’s new social services program feels like an important step toward a solution. Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Courts empower anyone in the orbit of a distressed person to petition the state to recommend treatment, and provide them with the necessary resources. But the devil is in the details, argues Jerel Ezell, an assistant professor of public health at UC Berkeley, in an essay for TIME. Experts are concerned that CARE Courts could trample the civil liberties of mentally ill individuals, by forcing them into treatment against their will. The system also does nothing to address many of the structural causes of homelessness, such as sky-rocketing rents and joblessness among vulnerable populations. Ultimately, Ezell writes, the goal of CARE Courts may be less about solving California’s homeless problem, and more about creating cover for politicians who don’t have any other answers. READ THE REST Share This Story

What Else to Read U.S. Suicide Rates Reached an All-Time High in 2022 By Haley Weiss U.S. suicide rates increased the most among adults over 75 and younger white women. Read More » The History Behind America's Devastating Shortage of Black Doctors By Margaret Vigil-Fowler / Made by History Decisions about medical training and licensing in the 19th and early 20th century are still having an impact today. Read More » The Evolutionary Origins of Psychedelics By Noah Whiteman Noah Whiteman explores what the origins of psychedelics can teach us about survival. Read More » The Stakes of Idaho Asking the Supreme Court to Allow Near-Total Abortion Ban By Nik Popli If the Supreme Court weighs in, it would be the first time it would render a judgment on punishing abortion-providing doctors after Dobbs. Read More » The Dirty Secret of Alternative Plastics By Aryn Baker A proposed ban on single-use plastics is a boon for the bioplastic industry, but are they really good for the environment? Read More »

ONE LAST READ Can hypnosis solve digestive illness? If the brain and the gut are as interconnected as scientists suspect, can psychological treatment be used to aid digestive issues? That’s the question being answered by a new wave of IBS patients seeking relief via clinical hypnotherapy. Unlike the hypnosis you’ll find on a Las Vegas stage, Kate Wheeling writes for the Atlantic, clinical hypnosis can be a powerful tool—and the science seems to back it up. Read More »

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