Mentally ill receiving poor treatment

The California Treatment Advocacy Coalition released a report that concluded the state does not provide proper mental-health treatment to those most severely affected by their illness.

The report, which was compiled by physicians, lawyers, judges, mental-health care workers and patients, found that Californians with the most debilitating mental illnesses were four times more likely to be in jail than a hospital or outpatient center, according to California Healthline.

The report detailed 14 recommended alterations to the 1967 Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, intended to help the mentally ill find treatment in their community, including a suggestion that every county in the state adopt Laura’s Law—court-ordered mental-health treatment for those who don’t realize they need care. Only Nevada County has fully adopted the law, as most counties lack the funding to implement it.