New California Law Expands Newsom's Mental Health Court
A new law has been signed by Gavin Newsom to expand the eligibility for CARE Court, a mental health program aimed at bringing more people with severe mental illness into treatment.
CARE Court was introduced by Newsom to help individuals experiencing severe mental illness, but it has helped fewer people than projected. The new law will now include people who experience psychotic symptoms as a result of bipolar disorder, in addition to those with schizophrenia and other limited psychotic disorders.
“California doesn’t sit on the sidelines while people fall through the cracks,”
Newsom said in a written statement, calling the law and its expansion an important part of his administration's efforts to bring people with serious mental illness into treatment.
The expansion of CARE Court may broaden its reach, despite ongoing questions about its effectiveness and the number of people it is helping.
Author's summary: New law expands mental health court eligibility.