The Council of the District of Columbia introduced a new bill about involuntary commitment: B25-0692 – The Enhancing Mental Health Crisis Support and Hospitalization Amendment Act of 2024. As for the bill guidelines, I acknowledge the importance of comparing this to the Jim Crow laws, that is, martial law. As a reader, if you do not know what martial law is, here’s a short explanation: “Our civil liberties go out the window.”
Jim Crow laws were based on colorism and hate, and the involuntary commitment bill is the same. I had a conversation with another vendor, and to my surprise, her heart felt the same about this crazy bill. It makes it easier to involuntarily commit people, and I think in practice it will mean that if someone calls in a favor, you’re in an argument, someone dislikes you, you piss someone off, or someone is angry at you, you can be picked up off the streets. A lot of these bills or laws against humanity do more harm than good.
Here’s part of what the bill would do:
“Amendment 1: Broaden the pool of authorized professionals: The bill proposes broadening the pool of qualified healthcare professionals authorized to initiate involuntary commitment processes, incorporating psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners who are recognized for their expertise in mental health assessments.
Amendment 2: Extend the detention time for emergency observation: The bill proposes extending the time limit for continued detention for emergency observation and diagnosis from seven to 15 days. This adjustment provides healthcare professionals with a more extended period to conduct thorough observations and diagnostics. It ensures a comprehensive understanding of an individual’s mental health condition and allows additional time for treatment. The goal is to ideally avoid involuntary commitment and instead connect individuals to inpatient and outpatient mental health resources and supports.
Amendment 7: Allow warrants to be issued for non- compliance: The bill would clarify that courts can allow warrants to be issued and executed due to a person’s failure to appear for court hearings or comply with treatment. This empowers the legal system with additional mechanisms to ensure individuals attend scheduled hearings and adhere to necessary treatments, including those who may abscond from a facility. “
Think about it…
Oppression is no longer about racism, or the fact of mental illness, homelessness, God, or others; It’s about controlling our every being of self.
The trauma I live with was created by my parents, their parents, and intergenerational teachings inherited. As of today, Jim Crow laws have been reintroduced in southern states in 2023
That is martial law. An opposition would say I am crazy for writing something like this: “How dare she?Who does she think she is?” I am someone who needs to stand against the oppression of self. I’m holding my heart together with glue.
Can you live with the idea of someone you truly love being pulled away from you without hesitation for standing against government rule? Do you have the “stones,” that is, the courage, to go up against a force suggesting we as humanity do not need free will? I do not have anyone to fight for me or protect me from the atrocities of malicious intent against my heart.
My experience has been that some government officials have tried to commit me for the wrong reasons. Here in the District of Columbia, they made an unjustified application for emergency hospitalization, better known as an FD-12, back in December.
When humans commit suicide, I ask that people think about what else is going on in their lives that other unstable people are creating for them. The evil people who hurt me with malicious intent are trying to force me into suicide. The point is bills like this do not help anyone because the government does not care about someone’s abusive ways against another human being.
As a societal norm, we are taught to believe and accept abusive behavior. That enables someone to be malicious to the voiceless. Why is the abuse one-sided and stating humans who live with trauma are the problem? Why are parents, grandparents, and others not held accountable because we don’t need to live their lives.
I’m considered unstable because I’m “combative” and need to turn a blind eye to societal norms. I am not combative. I fight for my spirit to stay alive against narcissistic behavior, people who want to control humanity, and people who do not obey the polarity of their unhealthy patterns.
Sharing my story is important for those who are voiceless. There is an assumption that I am fearless and courageous, I am not. I set healthy boundaries using Dialectical Behavior Skills (emotional regulation) and no one will rule my life according to their narrative. What I have written should have been a topic for discussion before this bill was introduced.
No one should be persecuted for their heart, or ability to lift their spirit and protect themselves against abusive people who are in denial and not taking accountability for their behavior. I have experienced being involuntarily committed against my will twice in my life. Why is it right for someone to have so much “power” over one person’s spirit who’s trying to be free from reliving traumatic experiences? We as a collective are being controlled and unable to express our voices. This bill does not care if someone is running from a domestic violence situation, trafficking, family, gang life, or abuse of any sort.
If you are a Street Sense reader and have experience of being oppressed by family, work, or others, please stand up for the voiceless who do not have anyone to protect them, including myself. Advocate for me, for the homeless, mental health community, disability community, and all as a collective addressing the importance of life. Teach me how to continue to fight for my spirit to be alive and free from reliving trauma. Education and truth about narratives regarding suicide. Think about that…
