Reform with care

"Some -- though not all -- advocates for mental health care reform want the state to adopt a law similar to New York's Kendra's Law, one that would trigger mandatory outpatient treatment well before someone would be considered a danger to himself or others."

This quote, from an editorial from Virginia's Roanoke Times, Reform with care, could have just as easily been published in a newspaper from Pennsylvania.

Both VA and PA are fighting to see a sensible law passed that will allow timely, compassionate treatment for their family members with a mental illness who do not seek treatment on their on due to a lack of insight of their illness. As the article states, "These advocates argue the state should mandate treatment for people who suffer substantial effects from their illness but are unable to understand the nature of it and, without treatment, will deteriorate and become significantly less able to function in their communities."

Changing treatment laws to help those individuals who are often most vulnerable is an effort worth fighting for and Kendra's Law in New York is a proven model that we should follow.