One of the long-standing debates in the discussion about how to best meet the needs of people with serious mental illness centers around the issue of whether treating people in the community is the best course, or if in-patient treatment is the better choice for society. For people in the recovery community, the value of community living and the empowerment that comes with meaningful daily activities seems obvious. However, various high-profile incidents involving people with mental health needs have brought about a perspective that says in order to allow people with mental health needs to live in the community, authorities must force them to accept medical treatment under penalty of law.
The latest edition of the Focus newsletter examines the arguments on either side of this debate, while looking at specific examples of forced treatment and how they have been evaluated by researchers and policy-makers. We hope you take a few minutes to read about this critical issue!