Mental Health & Law Resources Sacramento California
September 21, 2015 11:39 AM Subscribe
A friend's 30 year old son has been placed on a 72 hour psychiatric hold in Sacramento California. She is not questioning the validity or necessity of that--his history of mental illness is varied and documented. However, he is insistent she find him a lawyer and she asked me for help.
I am aware of Disability Rights California, which is in Sacramento and appears to have good fact sheets. I'm also not convinced he actually needs a lawyer--he's not been charged with any crime; he was actively suicidal when committed; it's only been 24 hours. However, I'd like to compile a list of local resources as it's been a long haul so far and is likely to get worse.
We can both google, but I'm asking the community for its direct experience with and recommendations for assistance. Things like reputation in the community or experience that their information is good, out-dated, incomplete &c.
The son has a social worker, no clear diagnosis that he has shared with his parents and a poor history of following medical advice.
I am aware of Disability Rights California, which is in Sacramento and appears to have good fact sheets. I'm also not convinced he actually needs a lawyer--he's not been charged with any crime; he was actively suicidal when committed; it's only been 24 hours. However, I'd like to compile a list of local resources as it's been a long haul so far and is likely to get worse.
We can both google, but I'm asking the community for its direct experience with and recommendations for assistance. Things like reputation in the community or experience that their information is good, out-dated, incomplete &c.
The son has a social worker, no clear diagnosis that he has shared with his parents and a poor history of following medical advice.
If he's low-income, try calling the Law Society of Northern California's Health Rights Hotline; the LSNC might be able to provide him with a legal aid attorney specializing in health issues, and if not, they may be able to refer him to someone.
posted by showbiz_liz at 12:26 PM on September 21, 2015
posted by showbiz_liz at 12:26 PM on September 21, 2015
The Sacramento County Public Defender's Office represents patients in some non-criminal mental health proceedings. When I worked there as a law student we got calls on these cases a lot, so I am sure someone at the main number has standard referral information they can provide. This is the main admin number: (916) 874-6411.
posted by xeney at 12:35 PM on September 21, 2015
posted by xeney at 12:35 PM on September 21, 2015
From the MeFi Wiki Get a lawyer page:
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Legal Resource Service offers referrals to attorneys in the areas of law often needed by people with mental health conditions and can be reached by calling 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., ET, or by email at info@nami.org. The NAMI HelpLine has volunteer attorneys and legal interns to help callers who need legal expertise or a referral to an attorney in their community, but does not provide individual casework, legal representation or other types of individual advocacy. To request a referral, call the NAMI HelpLine and ask to leave a message for the legal intern.posted by Little Dawn at 5:04 PM on September 21, 2015
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http://www.disabilityrightsca.org/pubs/502401.pdf
https://www.sccgov.org/sites/mhd/Resources/OFA/Documents/Patient's-Rights-Handbook---English.pdf
posted by gramcracker at 11:52 AM on September 21, 2015