New York City Mayor Eric Adams has instructed law enforcement and emergency medical professionals to hospitalize individuals who are medically unable to care for themselves even if they are not violent, The New York Times reported Nov. 29.
"The common misunderstanding persists that we cannot provide involuntary assistance unless the person is violent," Mr. Adams said in an address at New York's City Hall. "This myth must be put to rest. Going forward, we will make every effort to assist those who are suffering from mental illness and whose illness is endangering them by preventing them from meeting their basic human needs."
New York City now joins California and Washington state as major regions that have similar laws for involuntary hospitalization for individuals who are mentally ill.
Training for law enforcement and medical professionals will ensue immediately, according to the Times.
The city's guidelines for hospitalization are any individual who exhibits "unawareness or delusional misapprehension of surroundings" or "delusional misapprehension of physical condition or health," according to the publication.