In the last segment analyzing the California CARE Act, we will look to the future.
There is empirical evidence that supports outpatient treatment’s effectiveness for cases of psychoactive mood disorders, so why don’t we honor that? This model is expensive. And, and aforementioned, Gov. Gavin Newsom is eager to get people off of the streets and is willing to create legislation that utilizes both routes of involuntary commitment — the police power and parens patriae method.
Police power allows for involuntary commitments of people who are dangerous to themselves or others, typically actively. This means these individuals have expressed that they have harmed themself or others or intend to do so. The parens patriae model allows for involuntary commitment of individuals who are actively unable to care for themselves, therefore causing themselves active harm. Neither of these models are predictive, they refer to declarative action that someone has said they will take, or lack of action causing them active harm.
The through line of this discussion is stigma. As a nation, we have enshrined it into legislation and is now systemic to our state. In order to correct this, it is necessary to recognize that individuals living with mood disorders deserve to be seen and treated with full constitutional rights, as they are no different from any other citizen. Though these people are living in the same state as all of us, it is unclear why they are not afforded the same protections when it comes to legislation such as the California CARE Act. Instead of blatant complacency with ostracizing legislation, individuals need to use their power to vote and share the message to counteract legislation based on stigma
Works Cited
“CARE Act – California Health & Human Services.” California Health & Human Services, https://www.chhs.ca.gov/care-act/.
Department of Health Care Services. The Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act Annual Report July 2025. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/Documents/CARE-Act-Annual-Report-2025.pdf.
Judicial Branch of California. “Adult Civil Mental Health.” California Courts Judicial Branch of California, http://courts.ca.gov/programs-initiatives/families-and-children/behavioral-health/adult-civil-mental-health#:~:text=When%20Did%20the%20CARE%20Act,implemented%20by%20December%201%2C%202024.
Pleasants, Gregory. “Conditions of Confinement in the Mental Health System.” LAW 403: Mental Health Law, Feb. 6, 2024, University of Southern California, Los Angeles. Lecture.