On Tuesday, Mayor Eric Adams publicly announced his new plan to mitigate the mental health crisis that is taking place in New York City. Mayor Adams’ new plan will allow authorities to hospitalize people who are experiencing a psychiatric crisis to be hospitalized without their consent.
City agencies and contractors have already been alerted to the new directives, and specific training to police officers and Emergency Medical Services will soon be provided to ensure that patients are treated with ‘compassionate care’.
While some have already proclaimed the decision to detain people in hospitals without their consent as a violation of one’s freedom, Mayor Eric Adams believes that the city has a “moral obligation” to manage and resolve “a crisis we see all around us.”
Brendan McGuire, chief counselor to the mayor, said that forced hospitalization is legal under a state mental hygiene law, which allows for compulsory care for those individuals who seem harmful towards themselves or others. Each case will be assessed individually, and factors such as shelter availability, food access and health conditions will be taken into consideration.
“For too long, public safety personnel’s hands have been tied in getting those in need care before they hurt themselves or others. These directives and proposals are a common-sense way to clear those impediments and get help for those who need it most,” said Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III.
This plan comes as part of other major efforts, directed by Mayor Adams, to cope with the city’s increase of crime, the homeless crisis and mental health issues following the Covid-19 pandemic. While presenting the Subway Safety Plans in February 2022, Mayor Adams had explained how these three issues are related, and how his mission is to resolve them. Other initiatives included increasing beds in psychiatric hospitals, as well as more policing on the subway lines.
To conclude his announcement, the Mayor appealed to New Yorkers’ compassion and reciprocal respect. “We owe our brothers and sisters that much,” he said. “And, in helping them, we will also be protecting the rights of every New Yorker to live, work, thrive, and be safe.”
