But a mental illness is a disability. These interventions are not only inappropriate for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, they're also inappropriate for children with mental health disabilities.
https://twitter.com/splcenter/status/1383057888428576770
And, hot take, also really inappropriate for adults with mental health disabilities. We are outsourcing mental health care to the police.
I will, for what feels like the hundredth time, remind everyone that Florida has chosen not to expand Medicaid. Meaning that people are serious mental illness do not have access to even the basic health care available via Medicaid.
I can guarantee you that the people that virtually everyone with a mental health diagnosis are being Baker Act right now "appropriately" cannot access the health care services they need.
Yes, we should not be using force and incarceration against children with any disablity. But distinguishing between people with mental health disabilities as people who need to be institutionalized or treated via force is incredibly dangerous.
Anyway. I agree with SPLC that these cases are horrific and should not be allowed. But we really need to start acknowledging that forced treatment is harmful for everyone.
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