Involuntary commitment: Caring for those who cannot care for themselves.

I was saddened to hear of the death of Joel Reuter.

I never knew him. I think I first learned about his death through the tweet of a former coworker of his whom I follow. That and the fact that I’ve dated a guy who lived in the same building as him is the only clear connections I have to him.

It saddens me that he wasn’t able to get help. No, let me be more specific: It saddens me that help was not forced upon him. If you have a physical head injury in this country you are not allowed to refuse treatment.

Seven weeks ago Joel tweeted:

The new owner of my body and identity, Lucifer, has created the following identity for you to keep in touch: @jacobsHelix – @joeliolio at 12:14 AM – 2013 May 13

I do not claim to be a mental health professional or a lawyer, but someone who believes they have been possessed by Lucifer clearly has a mental illness that requires help.

In my life, I have had to call the authorities on three people who were suicidal. In each instance the person whom I called the authorities on was deeply angry with me at the time, however I still speak to all of them, and most of them have thanked me for doing what I did.

Having someone committed for mental health reasons is exceptionally difficult in the State of Washington: they must display an intent to physically harm themselves or others. There are those with mentally ill relatives who live in fear that their relatives will become the next Ian Stawicki, Adam Lanza, or Joel Reuter.

I struggle making it easier to involuntary commit someone because of their mental health is something that I struggle with. Our country has a long history of committing people under mental health statues for reasons other than mental health, the current state of our involuntary commitment laws is a direct reaction to these abuses.

In one way stronger involuntary commitment laws could be considered against my Unitarian Universalist principles. On the face depriving someone of their freedom and forcing them to be subjected to treatment does not honor their inherent worth and dignity. However, one of the most compassionate things we can do for one another is care for each other’s health.

I don’t claim to know what our involuntary commitment laws should be. However, I know a law that cannot force Ian Stawicki, Adam Lanza, or Joel Reuter to be helped is broken. Strengthened involuntary commitment laws may catch people who should not be committed, but this is an acceptable price to pay for helping the Ian Stawickis, Adam Lanzas, Joel Reuters, and the countless others who stuffer in silence.