Show Notes:

Episode 3: Civil Commitment

Episode transcript here.

In this episode, we take on the topic of civil commitment and experience. We address hospitalization, the emergency room, and the perspectives of people who work in the system and who receive treatment.  We address ways that civil commitment resembles incarceration. We speak to SYP and Laura Van Tosh, and feature the words of Cindi Fisher – all people whose lives and advocacy have intersected with the civil commitment system. This episode contains descriptions of civil commitment and emergency rooms, including discussions of suicidality. Music by Scout Smedley and editing by Nest Audio Co.

Relevant news articles:

Joseph Wainer - There’s a Crisis of Violence at Western State Hospital. I Know, I Used to Work There

Joseph O’Sullivan - Western State Hospital loses $53 million in federal funding after failing inspection

Updates:

Eílis O’Neill - Seattle Just Got 150 Psych Unit Beds - Is it Enough to Make a Difference? 

King County DCHS Blog - First-Of-Its-Kind Behavioral Health Crisis Center Opens in North King County

Resources:

Disability Rights Washington - From Hospitals to Handcuffs: Criminalizing Patients in Crisis - https://disabilityrightswa.org/reports/from-hospitals-to-handcuffs/ 

Mariam Kaba and Andrea Ritchie: No More Police: A Case for Abolition

Fireweed Collective - https://fireweedcollective.org/ 

Instituted for Development of Human Arts - https://www.idha-nyc.org/