>> COMING UP NEXT ON "HEADLINE HUMBOLDT," THE EUREKA CITY COUNCIL THIS WEEK VOTED TO PUT THE HOUSING FOR ALL AND DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION INITIATIVE IN FRONT OF VOTERS IN NOVEMBER, EVEN AS SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS EXPRESSED SERIOUS CONCERN ABOUT ITS IMPACT ON THE CITY'S PLAN TO PROVIDE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

ALSO, LEA NAGY AND JACOB ROSEN FROM NAMI HUMBOLDT JOIN US TO DESCRIBE HOW NEW LEGISLATIVE CHANGES TO STATE MENTAL HEALTH LAWS WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR FAMILY MEMBERS TO PUT THEIR LOVED ONES IN TREATMENT, AND HOW THIS CHANGE WON'T NECESSARILY PUT PEOPLE'S RIGHTS AT RISK.

COMING UP NOW ON "HEADLINE HUMBOLDT."

LIVE CC BY ABERDEEN CAPTIONING 800-688-6621 WWW.ABERCAP.COM FROM THE TOP OF HUMBOLDT HILL, THIS IS "HEADLINE HUMBOLDT."

I'M JAMES TALK.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

IN REPORTING AND IN LIFE, WE ALL MANEUVER THROUGH THE WORLD ACTING AS IF ALL THE ISSUES WE FACE SIT ALONE IN OUR COLLECTIVE IMAGINATIONS, INDEPENDENTLY COMPLEX AND EACH DUE ITS OWN UNIQUE CONSIDERATIONS AND SOLUTIONS.

WELL THAT IS TRUE, FOR THE MOST PART.

REALITY IS A LOT MORE COMPLICATED.

ON TONIGHT'S SHOW WE SIT DOWN WITH LEA NAGY AND JACOB ROSEN OF THE HUMBOLDT CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR THE MENTALLY ILL AND JACOB IS FROM THE STIT OF EUREKA, TO DISCUSS RECENT REFORMS TO STATE MENTAL HEALTH LAW THAT WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR FAMILIES TO GET THEIR LOVED ONES HELP.

ONE OF THE MANY DIFFICULTIES FACES BOTH MENTALLY ILL PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS IS THE PROPENSITY OF PEOPLE TO DENY THEY NEED HELP, OR TO REFUSE HELP MORE BROADLY FOR A WHOLE SLEW OF REASONS.

THE NEW RULES WILL ENABLE FAMILIES, THROUGH A JUDGE, TO PUT THEIR LOVED ONES IN TREATMENT INVOLUNTARILY, A MOVE THAT NAGY AND MANY OTHERS SAY WILL HELP SAVE LIVES.

I HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THIS REGARD, AS THE SON OF A DIAGNOSED AND AT TIMES VIOLENT PARANOID SCHIZOPHRENIC.

AT TIMES, DAD REALIZED HE NEEDED HELP.

THOSE REALIZATIONS WOULD OFTEN RESULT IN A TEARFUL BREAKDOWN AND A PROMISE TO WORK HARD AT GETTING BETTER.

AND HE DID WORK HARD, BUT DAD'S DISEASE WAS SUBTLE AND INSIDIOUS.

BEFORE LONG, ITS INFLUENCE WOULD UNSETTLE DAD'S DETERMINATION AND CONVINCE HIM THAT SUCH HELP WOULD STRIP HIM OF THE VERY ASPECTS OF HIS PERSONALITY THAT HE'd COME TO VALUE.

OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE MYRIAD CHALLENGES FACING FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE MENTALLY ILL.

YET ONE OF THE REASONS THESE CHANGES HAVE GAINED SO MUCH MOMENTUM IS HOMELESSNESS.

CALIFORNIA, LIKE SOME OTHER STATES, HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY BESIEGED BY AN EXPLODING NUMBER OF HOMELESS PEOPLE, MANY OF WHO SUFFER FROM MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.

HERE'S WHERE MENTAL HEALTH AND OUR OTHER STORY OF THE NIGHT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, COME TOGETHER.

WHILE TREATMENT AND FAMILY ADVOCACY ARE, OF COURSE, ABSOLUTELY VITAL IN HELPING FOLKS OVERCOME PROBLEMS SURROUNDING MENTAL HEALTH, A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH REQUIRES THAT THERE BE AFFORDABLE HOMES AVAILABLE FOR THESE FOLKS IF AND WHEN THEY GET THE TREATMENT THEY NEED.

WHILE BOTH ISSUES ARE VITAL, TO DEAL WITH EITHER ONE WITHOUT A DEEP CONSIDERATION OF THE OTHER, AS WELL AS RELATED ISSUES, WILL UNDOUBTEDLY IN THE END LEAVE BOTH PROBLEMS UNRESOLVED.

SYNTHESIZING OUR APPROACHES TO THESE AND OTHER PROBLEMS ARE THE ONLY MEANS TO A REAL SOLUTION FOR BOTH HELP AND HOUSING THE MENTALLY ILL, LIKE A LOT OF THINGS TODAY, WE ALL GET SO DISTRACTED BY OFTEN SIMPLE EXPLANATIONS AND SOCIAL MEDIA QUIPS WHEN THE TRUE ANSWERS LIE IN CONSIDERING ALL SUCH ISSUES AS PART OF A GLOBAL APPROACH TO LIFTING UP THOSE IN NEED AND DEMONSTRATING A KIND OF RADICAL, EMPATHY.

BUT FIRST, THE NEWS.

THIS WEEK THE EUREKA CITY COUNCIL VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO PUT THE HOUSING FOR ALL INITIATIVE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.

SEVERAL COUNCILMEMBERS AT THE SAME TIME EXPRESSED EXTREME RESERVATIONS ABOUT HOW THE PROPOSED INITIATIVE COULD HINDER THE CITY'S WORK TO MAKE MORE AFFORDABLE HOMES AVAILABLE.

IT SEEKS TO STOP THE CONTINUED CONVERSION OF OLD TOWN PARKING LOTS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS, AS IS ALREADY UNDER WAY FOR TWO EXISTING LOTS DOWNTOWN.

THE INITIATIVE ALSO SEEKS TO TURN THE FORMER JACOBS JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS INTO AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL IS ALREADY IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO ACQUIRE THAT PROPERTY FOR ITS HEADQUARTERS.

THE CHANGES PROPOSED BY THE INITIATIVE COULD PUT THE CITY OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH ITS AFFORDABLE HOUSING GOALS, AND COULD JEOPARDIZE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN ALREADY ALLOCATED GRANT MONEY.

THE HOUSING FOR ALL AND DOWNTOWN VITALITY INITIATIVE WILL BE PUT TO VOTERS AT THE NEXT MUNICIPAL ELECTION, WHICH IS SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 5, 2024.

MIKE MUNSON, ONE OF THE SPONSORS OF THE INITIATIVE SAY THE ISSUE IS ABOUT PROTECTING OLD TOWN BUSINESS FROM AN EVEN WORSE PARKING SITUATION.

>> AS A CO-SPONSOR FOR EUREKA HOUSING FOR ALL AND DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION INITIATIVE, I ASK THE CITY TO VOTE TONIGHT TO ADOPT THE INITIATIVE.

WE HAVE COLLECTED SIGNATURES FROM ALL PRECINCTS IN LESS THAN 30 DAY, ALONG WITH A THIRD PARTY CONSULT WAS THE MAJORITY OF VOTERS ARE OPPOSED TO REPLACING THE NINE PARKING LOTS WITH HOUSING CLEARLY DEMONSTRATE THE VOTERS ARE NOT SUPPORTING THE CURRENT DOWNTOWN HOUSING PLAN.

DOWNTOWN BUSINESS OWNERS HAVE BEEN ATTENDING PUBLIC AND CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS FOR MANY YEARS ABOUT REMOVING PARKING SASS VITAL TO OUR BUSINESSES.

FOR EXAMPLE, CITY COUNCIL IN JULY 7, 2020, APPROVING THE RELEASE OF THE PARKING LOTS AT SUNDAYY AND MYRTLE, H AND G, H AND M FOR DEVELOPMENT, SEVERAL PEOPLE STOOD BEFORE THIS BODY EXPLAINING HOW LOSING THESE LOTS WOULD DAMAGE THEIR BUSINESSES.

SOME KBROF VOW SEEMED SEMP THREATIC BUT VOTED IT THROUGH ANYWAY.

THE MAYOR ON FEBRUARY 10th, 2022 WAS QUOTED AS SAYING I WORKED IN OLD TIME FOR 15 YEARS AND IT IS HARD TO FIND A PARKING PLACE.

I HEAR WHAT BUSINESS OWNERS ARE SAYING AND I WANT THIS PROJECT SO I WANT TO MITIGATE THESE ISSUES TOGETHER AND MOVE ON SO WE CAN HAVE A WIN-WIN SITUATION.

YOU SAID YOU WERE ALL IN WITH THIS PROJECT WITH THAT CAVEAT.

YOU HAVE CONTINUED TO IGNORE A BETTER PLAN AND YOU HAVE NO CHOICE THAN TO LET THE VOTERS OF EUREKA DECIDE THIS.

WE SUPPORTING HOUSING DOWNTOWN, NOT TO THE DETRIMENT OF OUR BUSINESSES.

THEY ARE THE LIFE BLOOD OF OUR ECONOMY, YOU NEED THESE BUSINESSES.

WE ARE BRINGING THE PEOPLE DOWNTOWN AND PAYING THE TAXES.

THERE ARE REASONS WHY WE HAVE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS AND COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS.

TO EXPECT EVERYONE TO RELY ON PUBLIC OR ACTIVE TRANSIT IS FARFETCHED.

THE SAME SURVEY SAY 87% OF THE PEOPLE WHO TRAVEL DOWNTOWN DRIVE THERE.

YOU NOTED HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS NOT TO DRIVE BEFORE REARRANGING YOUR SCHEDULE BEFORE AND AFTER THE CHALLENGE.

HOW CAN YOU EXPECT ANYONE TO DRIVE AND NOT FIND ADEQUATE PARKING.

I URGE YOU TO ADOPT THE INITIATIVE DIRECTLY AND PUT IT ON THE BALLOT FOR THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT.

THANK YOU.

>> SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEANWHILE SUPPORTED SENDING THE INITIATIVE ON TO THE VOTERS WHILE ALSO CALLING FOR AN EFFORT TO ENSURE VOTERS EKNOW WHAT'S AT STAKE.

>> I WANTED TO SAY I WISH THIS ORDINANCE SAYS WHAT IT DOES WHAT IT SAYS IT DOES AND MAKE HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE IN THE CITY OF EUREKA.

IF WE CAN VOTE TO MAKE HOUSING APPEAR ON THE JACOBSS PROPERTY I WOULD LIKE THAT, BUT THAT IS NOT AN OPTION NO MATTER WHAT THIS INITIATIVE SAYS.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE CHANCE FOR THE CITIZENS OF EUREKA TO READ THIS AND READ THE ANALYSIS OF IT AND READ REPORTS OF REAL IMPACTS AND HOW THIS WILL HIT THE GROUND, WHAT IT WILL DO, WHAT IT WON'T DO, WHAT IT CAN AND CAN'T DO.

AND THIS TIME BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN IT GETS TO THE VOTE IS A CHANCE FOR THE PUBLIC TO BECOME INFORMED AND TO BE ABLE TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION.

>> YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING MOVE FORWARD WITH TAKING IT TO THE VOTERS RATHER THAN PASS IT TONIGHT.

YOU KNOW, IT COULD REALLY CREATE SOME SERIOUS PROBLEMS FOR THE CITY, OBSTRUCTING ZONING CODE, COMPROMISING OUR ALEXANDRIAING WITH STATE LAW AND COST CITIZENS AND TAXPAYERS A LOT OF MONEY AND POTENTIALLY LOSE ACCESS TO SIGNIFICANT GRANT FUNDING WE ARE LOOKING AT FOR THE CITY OF EUREKA.

I DEFINITELY SUPPORT CONTINUED EDUCATION AND ACCESS TO PUBLIC PROCESS AROUND THIS ISSUE SO WE CAN REALLY ENSURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THEY ARE VOTING ON AND THE CONSEQUENCES FOR THEMSELVES AS WELL AS CITIZENS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, CITIZENS OF THE FUTURE, ACCORDING TO SURVEYS, MANY, MANY CITIZENS ARE HAVING GREAT DIFFICULTY ACCESSING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SPENDING WELL OVER 30% OF THEIR INCOME ON HOUSING WHICH DOESN'T ALLOW PEOPLE TO SAVE MONEY FOR SUSTAINABLE FUTURES FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

THAT IS WHY I'M SUPPORTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY OF EUREKA AND DEFINITELY WOULD PREFER TO OR AM ADVOCATING TO GO FOR OPTION B OR LETTER B, SUBMITTING THE ORDINANCE WITHOUT ALTERATION.

>> SO WE ARE JOINED BY LEA NAGY FROM NAMI HUMBOLDT, THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR THE MENTALLY ILL, THE HUMBOLDT CHAPTER.

JACOB, YOU ARE THE CHIEF CLINICIAN FOR THE CITY OF EUREKA.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

THIS ISSUE AROUND HOMELESSNESS ARE EXTRAORDINARILY COMPLICATED AND IT IS HARD FOR PEOPLE TO GET A REAL GRASP OF WHAT THE FACTS ARE ON THE GROUND, AND THE LONG HISTORY LEADING UP TO THE SITUATION WE ARE CURRENTLY IN.

I THANK YOU GUYS FOR JOINING US AND TAKING THE TIME TO HELP US NAVIGATE THROUGH THESE INTRA -- INTRICACIES.

LEA, CAN YOU TELL US MORE?

>> YEAH.

I APPRECIATE YOU DOING A PROGRAM LIKE THIS.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND I'M PRESIDENT OF NAMI HUMBOLDT, A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION STARTED IN THE 50s BY TWO MOMS WHO HAD A COUPLE OF GIRLS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA.

IT IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS FAMILIES.

I DO SUPPORT GROUPS EVERY WEEK, TWO IN EUREKA, ONE IN REDWAY.

WE DO A FAMILY TO FAMILY CLASS THAT IS EIGHT WEEKS LONG THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING TAUGHT THAT IS FREE.

WE ALSO HAVE A MULTICULTURAL SYMPOSIUM ON NOVEMBER 4 AT THE WARFINGER BUILDING.

YOU CAN REGISTER 9:30 OR REGISTER ONLINE.

IT IS GOING BE A PANEL OF PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE AND ALSO PROFESSIONALS.

AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT MULTICULTURAL ISSUES RELATING TO MENTAL ILLNESS AND MELTD MENTAL HEALTH.

IT IS TOTALLY FREE.

YOU CAN E-MAIL ME AT LEANAGY@YAHOO.COM AND I CAN GIVE THEM FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT STUFF.

>> OKAY.

>> YEAH, NAMI HUMBOLDT SAN ADVOCACY GROUP.

IT OFFERS SUPPORT AND WE'RE JUST REALLY GLAD YOU WANTED TO HAVE NAMI HUMBOLDT ON THE PROGRAM.

>> I APPRECIATE THAT.

I THANK YOU GUYS, YOU DO INVALUABLE WORK AND I APPRECIATE YOU FOR BEING WILLING TO COME IN.

>> THANK YOU.

JACOB, YOU ARE A FOUNT OF INFORMATION ON MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

THE INTRI KI SIS OF THE LAWS AND IMPACT ON PEOPLE'S LIVES.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU DO FOR THE CITY OF EUREKA AND THE CARE PROGRAM?

>> YEAH.

SO PRIOR TO COMING TO THE CITY, I WORKED FOR THE COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM AND THE CRISIS STABILITIZATION UNIT FOR SIX YEARS.

I CAME TO THE CITY IN AUGUST OF 2022 TO HELP START THEIR CRISIS TEAM.

SO WE ARE DEVELOPING CARE, WHICH IS CRISIS ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE EUREKA.

WE ARE PROVIDING CO-RESPONSE TO MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE CRISES IN THE CITY OF EUREKA.

WE COLLABORATE CLOSELY WITH EUREKA POLICE DEPARTMENT AND COMMUNITY SAFETY ENGAGEMENT TEAM.

MY PRIMARY COUNTERPART IS THE COMMANDER LA FRANZ IN THE DEPARTMENT AND WE ARE WORKING TO BUILD THIS OUT TO PROVIDE BETTER CRISIS SERVICES IN THE CITY.

APPRECIATE COMING ON TO TALK ABOUT THE CHANGES.

WE HAVE A LOT THIS YEAR AND NEXT YEAR AND IT IS SUPER IMPORTANT TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT.

>> YEAH.

THAT IS THE, I MEAN, LA FRANZ, I HAVE HAD ON THE SHOW BEFORE.

THEY HAVE DONE VITAL WORK TRYING TO INTERCEDE WHEN THINGS ARE COMPLICATED BY MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES OR DRUG ADDICTION ISSUES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> I'M PRONE TO FOLLOW THE DRUG ADDICTION STUFF.

THE MENTAL HEALTH STUFF IS PROBABLY MORE IMPORTANT.

HOW OFTEN IS THAT AN ISSUE IN POLICE INTERACTIONS WHERE MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION PLAY THE ROLES IN SHEN NAN GANS.

>> CURRENTLY WE ARE SEEING 130 CALLS COME INTO 9-1-1PD.

OUR TEAM IS ME AND TWO CASE MANAGERS ALTHOUGH WE WERE AWARDED A GRANT THAT WAS $625,000 FROM THE CARE STAR FOUNDATION TO EXPAND OUR TEAM.

THAT WILL HOPEFULLY DOUBLE OUR TEAM SIZE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS TO ACCOMMODATE THAT.

THE CALLS ARE FREQUENT AND IT IS A LOT.

IT CAN BE ANYTHING FROM SOMEONE WHO IS A CONCERNED CITIZEN WHO SEES SOMEONE DISORGANIZED TALKING TO THEMSELVES.

SOMEONE COULD BE BACKING AGGRESSIVE CAUSING A THREAT.

THE CALLS CAN BE VERY DYNAMIC REQUIRING SOMETIMES LAW ENFORCEMENT TO MAINTAIN SAFETY, ALSO SOMETIMES MENTAL HEALTH PRESENCE.

OUR HOPE IS TO CONTINUE TO INSERT THAT MENTAL HEALTH PRESENCE SO WE CAN BROADEN OUR CAPACITY TO BETTER -- PROVIDE A BETTER SERVICE FOR THOSE CALLS.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.

LEA, WE TALKED LAST WEEK.

I HAD YOU ON LAST WEEK.

IT SEEMS GOVERNOR NEWSOM HAS MADE A REAL EFFORT TO SEE SOME REFORM ON HISTORICALLY LAGGARD ROLES IN TERMS OF HANDLING THIS ISSUE.

CAN YOU GIVE US A BRIEF SUMMARY OF WHAT YOU THINK THESE NEW RULES ARE GOING DO FOR FOLKS IN TERMS OF FAMILIES AND PATIENTS?

>> OKAY, JAMES.

WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS JUST A DROP IN THE BUCKET.

THIS IS JUST A GOOD START.

THANK GOD WE ARE STARTING TO TALK ABOUT CHANGING LAWS THAT ARE HISTORICALLY 50, 60 YEARS OLD.

SO THE NEW GRAVELY DISABLED LAW, IT WILL BE EXPANDED SO THAT IF SOMEONE -- SO IN THE PAST, IF YOU HAD YOUR LOVED ONE AND YOU WERE PROVIDING THEM WITH FOOD, SHELTER AND CLOTHING, YOU WERE TOLD MAKE THEM HOMELESS, DON'T GIVE THEM FOOD.

DON'T SUPPORT THEM AND THEN THEY WILL FALL INTO THE GUTTER AND HOMELESSNESS AND MAYBE GET THE HELP THEY NEED.

MOST OF US LOVE THESE KIDS.

YOU KNOW, WE BELIEVE THAT MENTAL ILLNESSES IS A CHEMICAL/BIOLOGICAL BRAIN DISORDER.

IF YOUR CHILD HAS CANCER YOU ARE NOT TOLD TO ABANDON THEM.

THIS NEW LAW WILL ENABLE FAMILIES TO HELP THE LOVED ONE THAT THEN IF THE LOVED ONE, IN THE CASE OF ONE OF MY SONS, YOU KNOW, IS KIND OF MANIC AND WALKING IN THE STREET, DOING UNSAFE THINGS, IF THE PERSONAL SAFETY IS IN JEOPARDY, THEY CAN STILL, A FAMILY CAN STILL ACCESS HELP YOUR LOVED ONE ACCESS SERVICES TO BE PLACED ON A 5150 AND TO GET SOME MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT.

IT IS NOT LIKE FAMILIES CAN NOW JUST PUT PEOPLE INTO TREATMENT.

>> YEAH.

>> THE 5150 LAWS, THE 5250 LAWS ARE STILL IN PLACE AND IT IS A VERY COMPLICATED, AS JACOB AS I WERE TALKING TO YOU EARLIER, ON THE WHOLE PROCEDURE.

IT IS NOT EASY.

>> IT IS REVIEWED MULTIPLE TIMES FOR MULTIPLE OFFICIALS TRYING TO DO THE MOST APPROPRIATE THING FOR THE PERSON.

>> YEAH.

JUST A QUICK STORY ABOUT MY SON WHO WAS JUST INVOLUNTARY TREATED.

I ASKED HIM, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF INVOLUNTARY TREATMENT?

HE SAID AT FIRST, IT WAS INTERESTING.

I WOULD GO IN ANGRY, STRESSED, UP SET' AND PSYCHOTIC.

AND I WOULD LEAVE WITH PEACE AND RECOVERY.

HE IS NOW ON A WONDERFUL MEDICATION AND HE IS JUST DOING AMAZING.

SO IN THE BEGINNING ITS IS HARD FOR FAMILIES AND I THINK IT IS HARD FOR THE PERSON WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.

>> SURE.

>> NONE OF US WANT TO BE INVOLUNTARILY TAKEN AWAY OUR RIGHTS, ET CETERA.

QUESTION DO INVOLUNTARY TREATMENT.

WE DO IT IN THE JAILS.

356,000 PEOPLE ARE IN JAIL.

>> A LOT OF TIMES THE ALTERNATIVE IS DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS OR THEY END UP IN PRISON.

WE ARE SPENDING MORE MONEY DOING SOMETHING DESTRUCTIVE RATHER THAN GETTING SOMEONE THE HELP THEY NEED.

>> IT IS NOT HELPING A PERSON IN A JAIL CELL.

IT IS MORE THERAPEUTIC TO BE IN A MENTAL HEALTH HOSPITAL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THANK YOU FOR ASKING ME THAT QUESTION.

THAT IS ONE OF MY PASSIONS.

>> JACOB, WE WERE TALKING EARLIER.

THE LANGUAGE OF THE ORIGINAL LAW WHICH DICTATED HOW PEOPLE HAD TO PUT INTO TREATMENT OR WHAT PEOPLE COULD DO TO GET THIS KIND OF RIGHT, INVOLUNTARY THING STARTED.

JUST BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE ORIGINAL LAW WAS WORDED THAT MADE IT SO FAMILIES WERE TOLD SOMETIMES NOT TO CARE FOR THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS BECAUSE BY DOING SO YOU DISQUALIFY THEM FOR THE DIAGNOSIS TO GET THEM TREATMENT.

>> SURE.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO COVER THE 5150.

AS OF NOW, IS DANGER TO SELF, DANGER TO OTHERS OR GRAVELY DISABLED.

THE PERSON HAS TO BE THAT.

DANGER TO SELF AND OTHERS, IMMINENT THREAT TO OTHER PEOPLE DUE TO A PSYCHIATRIC CONDITION.

IT IS NOT SOMEONE ROBBING A BANK OR TRYING TO BREAK INTO A STORE.

IT HAS TO BE RELATED TO A PSYCHIATRIC CONDITION.

AND THEN GRAVELY DISABLED WHICH WAS DUE TO A PSYCHIATRIC CONDITION AND THE PERSON CANNOT ACCESS FOOD, SHELTER OR CLOTHING.

THOSE THREE THINGS ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, RIGHT?

IF SOMEONE CAN'T ACCESS THOSE THAT IS DEVASTATING FOR THEM.

THE ISSUE IT CREATED, THE WAY THE CRITERIA READ IN THE LAW, IF YOU HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER WHO IS PROVIDING THAT FOOD, SHELTER AND CLOTHING, IT MADE IT DIFFICULT TO DETAIN THAT INDIVIDUAL, EVEN IF THE FAMILY WANTS THAT AND IT WAS OBVIOUS IF THE PERSON DIDN'T HAVE FAMILY SUPPORTS THEY WOULD BE PUT ON A HOLD.

IT WAS DIFFICULT TO BRING THEM IN FOR TREATMENT AND START THE PROCESS OF GETTING THEM BETTER THIS CAN SOMETIMES TAKE WEEKS.

PEOPLE WERE HAVING THEIR TREATMENT DELAYED AND A LOT MORE TRAUMA HAPPENING TO THE FAMILY AND THE INDIVIDUAL BECAUSE THINGS HAD TO GET MUCH, MUCH WORSE.

SOME OF THE WORST CONVERSATIONS I HAVE HAD TO -- >> THE IMPACT ON THE WORKERS, YOU ARE SAYING STEP AWAY FROM YOUR LOVED ONE SO THE PROCESS CAN TAKE PLACE.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

>> IT IS AN AWFUL CONVERSATION.

TO TALK TO A MOTHER AND SAY I NEED YOU TO KICK YOUR SON OUT OF THE HOUSE AND NOT PROVIDE HIM FOOD OR CLOTHING ANYMORE IS AWFUL.

IT IS NOT SOMETHING WE IN THE HEALTH CARE FIELD SHOULD HAVE TO DO.

PERSONAL SAFETY OR NEGLECTING CRITICAL MEDICAL CARE.

THE PERSONAL SAFETY PIECE IS THE LARGER ONE THAT COMES UP MORE OFTEN.

FAMILIES PROVIDING FOR FOOD, SHELTER AND CLOTHING, IF THAT PERSON CAN'T PROVIDE FOR PERSONAL SAFETY NOW, IT OPENS THE EXTRA CRITERIA OF GRAVELY DISABLED TO GET THEM IN FOR INVOLUNTARY TREATMENT WHICH AGAIN CAN HELP FAMILIES, THAT INDIVIDUAL AND WE CAN START THE TREATMENT PROCESS SOONER, WHICH IS SUPER, SUPER IMPORTANT.

>> NOW ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT LAST WEEK, LEA, THE FACT THAT WHAT IS PIVOTAL IS WHETHER THERE IS MONIES, IS THE STATE GOING PUT THEIR MONEY WHERE THEIR MOUTH IS IN MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT.

THERE IS A BOND ISSUE IN MARCH AND MORE CHANGES IN NOVEMBER THEY MAY DO WORK TO GET THIS FUNDED.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU UNDERSTAND ABOUT THOSE?

>> I KNOW GOVERNOR NEWSOM WANTS TO PUT ON THE BALLOT SOME FUNDING FOR 10,000 MORE PSYCHIATRIC BEDS, WHICH AS YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH BEDS.

THERE IS A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PART.

OUR COUNTY AND ALL OVER THE NATION IS SHORT ON MENTAL HEALTH WORKERS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

PSYCHIATRIC NURSES, PSYCHIATRISTS.

>> THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND SO THOSE THINGS ARE GOING BE REALLY IMPORTANT.

JACOB HAS MORE PROBABLY TO ADD TO THAT.

I THINK WE'RE JUST STARTING TO LOOK -- PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT HOMELESS.

IN FACT, ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS SAID TO ME, WELL, THEY JUST WANT TO BE HOMELESS.

IT IS LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE TOPIC -- I DON'T WANT TO CHANGE THE TOPIC, BUT THE WHOLE THING ABOUT ANASIGNOSIA, NOW WE HAVE BRAIN RESEARCH, WE HAVE BEEN DOING BRAIN RESEARCH, WE REALIZE SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS CAUSES AN ISSUE WITH INSIGHT.

IF YOU TOUCH A HOT STOVE YOU KNOW IT IS HOT, YOU ARE NOT GOING TOUCH IT AGAIN.

THE MENTAL ILLNESS TAKES AWAY THE INSIGHT.

IF I GO OFF MEDS I'M GOING BE, YOU KNOW, MENTALLY ILL.

THEY DON'T -- THERE IS A BOOK, I'M NOT SICK, I DON'T NEED HELP.

YOU CAN'T BLAME THEM.

THEY DON'T FEEL THEY NEED THE HELP BUT WE, AS FAMILY MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WATCH THEM DETERIORATE, RUN THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD NAKED, MAYBE DESTROY PARTS OF THEIR BODY.

IT CAN BE SO, SO DANGEROUS TO OTHERS, DANGEROUS TO SELF BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW THEY NEED THE HELP.

THAT IS WHERE THE INVOLUNTARY TREATMENT HELP COMES IN >> YEAH >> BOY, IN THE CASE OF MY FAMILY, MY KIDS, MY GRANDKIDS, ONCE THEY ARE ON THE MEDICATION, WE GET OUR LOVED ONE BACK THE WAY THEY ARE SANE AND NOT PSYCHOTIC AND NOT -- >> AND THE VALUE FOR THAT PERSON AND THE FAMILY MEMBERS IS IMMEASURABLE.

>> AND THE COMMUNITY.

IT IS A WIN-WIN FOR ANYBODY.

>> JACOB, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD?

>> YEAH.

JAMES THE PIECE IS SO IMPORTANT.

IT IS A SYMPTOM.

THIS ISN'T PEOPLE WITH JUST MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES DON'T LOOK INTO IT.

IT IS A SYMPTOM THAT COMES WITH SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

>> THE INABILITY TO DO CONSEQUENCES.

>> SYMPTOMATIC UNDERSTANDING OF CONSEQUENCES.

WE HAVE THE ABILITY -- IF WE SAY SOMETHING WRONG IN A MEETING, OOPS, THAT DIDN'T SOUND GREAT AND WE CAN COME BACK AND REPAIR THAT.

INDIVIDUALS WITH SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES LIKE SCHIZOPHRENIA, LIKE SCHIZO EFFECTIVE DISORDER LOSE THE ABILITY TO KNOW THEY ARE SICK.

IF YOU LOOK AT OTHER DISORDERS, YOU HAVE A RESPIRATORY ILLNESS, YOUR LUNGS HAVE THAT ASPECT.

WHEN WE HAVE A BRAIN DISORDER OUR BRAINS ARE AFFECTED.

IF SOMEONE IS HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING, THERE IS A LOT OF INSTINCT TO KICK IN.

IF SOMEONE LOSES THAT INSTINCT AND SOMEONE DOESN'T RECOGNIZE THEY NEED TREATMENT THAT IS WHERE THE CHANGES IN THE LAW COME INTO PLACE BEING ABLE TO HELP THOSE FOLKS SOONER.

THE FASTER WE CAN GET THEM TREATMENT THE BETTER THE OVERALL TRAJECTORY THEIR HEALTH IS.

WITH THE BRAIN, THERE IS A PRIMING EFFECT.

THE MORE SOMEONE IS IN A PSYCHOTIC STATE OR MANIC STATE THE MORE THE BRAIN BECOMING PRIMED TO BE IN THAT STATE.

MAYBE THE FIRST TIME THEY ARE SICK THEY START AT THE TOP LEVEL OF STAIRS, THEY COME DOWN THREE STAIRS.

THEY GET BETTER AND GO UP THREE STAIRS.

AFTER MANY, MANY TREATMENTS AND PROLONG PSYCHOSIS, THEY GO DOWN THREE AND COME UP ONE.

WHEN THAT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN WE SEE OVERALL DECREASE IN FUNCTIONING WHERE IT BECOMES MORE DIFFICULT FOR PROFESSIONALS TO HELP THEM RECOVER, BUT THEIR OVERALL LEVEL OF FUNCTIONING WHEN THEY HAVE RECOVERED IS VERY WELL DIMINISHED IS AN AWFUL SITUATION AND BECOMES A BURDEN FOR THE SYSTEM BECAUSE WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE HOUSING AND SERVICES FOR THAT PERSON WHO HAS DECREASED FUNCTIONING BECAUSE WE AS A SYSTEM TOOK TOO LONG TO GET THEM THE CARE THEY NEEDED.

>> YEAH.

>> THESE PROBLEMS ARE SO VAST AND THE NUMBERS ARE SO HIGH, IT IS A DAUNTING PROBLEM TO CONSIDER FROM A DISTANCE OR EVEN UP CLOSE, OF COURSE.

WHAT AREN'T WE ADDRESSING WITH THESE CHANGES?

AND WHAT ARE THE THINGS OUT THERE, THE GREAT WHITE WHALE OF WHAT IS THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM THAT NEEDS TO GET FIXED WE HAVEN'T EVEN BEGUN TO ADDRESS YET W WE HAVE A MINUTE AND A HALF.

>> OH, MY GOSH.

THAT QUESTION IS HUGE.

I THINK WE NEED TO ADDRESS A COMMUNITY THAT GETS MORE INVOLVED IN CARING FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE PERSON.

LIKE I SAID BEFORE, YOU MEASURE A SOCIETY BY HOW THEY TREAT THEIR MOST VULNERABLE PERSON.

AND THOSE ARE OUR HOMELESS AND OUR LOVED ONES WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.

I MEAN, EVERYONE HAS A PART, WHETHER YOU GET A SANDWICH FOR SOMEBODY ON THE CORNER OR YOU VOTE FOR MORE SERVICES, EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY HAS A PART TO MAKE THINGS BETTER.

AND IT IS JUST LITTLE STEPS AT A TIME, OVER TIME.

AND I BELIEVE WE ALWAYS SAY AT THE END OF OUR NAMI MEETINGS, WE WILL NEVER GIVE UP HOPE AND WE KEEP FIGHTING FOR A BETTER FUTURE AND BETTER SOCIETY.

JACOB?

>> I WOULD AGREE WITH ALL THAT AND ADD THE BILLS ARE BEING SIGNED, WE ARE SEEING THEM PROGRESSIVELY TAKE STEPS IN THAT DIRECTION.

IN 2023 WE REVAMPED 5150 CRITERIAS SO THE FOLKS DON'T LANGUISH IN THE ER WITHOUT HAVING THEIR CASE HEARD BY AN OFFICER.

# CARE COURT IS BEING IMPLEMENTED IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

>> A SEPARATE PLACE FOR FOLKS WITH THESE ISSUES TO GET DEALT WITH APPROPRIATE TO THEIR TREATMENT.

>> THAT IS MORE INVOLUNTARY TREATMENT AND OUTPATIENT MORE THAN INPATIENT WHICH IS LESS RESTRICTIVE, WHICH IS MIDDLE FWROUPD.

REFORMING MHSA.

>> MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ACT.

>> THAT IS A TAX ON FOLKS MAKING $1 MILLION THAT GETS DISBURSED TO COUNTIES.

ADDING THIS FUNDING BILL TO PROMOTE MORE BED ACCESS IS SUPER IMPORTANT.

THAT IS NOT INPATIENT BEDS, CRISIS RESIDENTIALS, LOW-INCOME HOUSING, THEY ARE BROADENING THAT OUT BECAUSE WE NEED THINGS AT ALL LEVEL AND WHERE TREATMENT COMES IN, TREATMENT FOR THE CLIENTS WE CAN GET THEM TO THAT HOUSING FOR THEM AND BUILD UP THE WORKFORCE.

THERE IS A WORKFORCE COMPONENT, TOO.

IF WE DON'T HAVE THE WORKFORCE -- >> NONE OF THIS MEANS ANYTHING.

THIS IS ONLY SCRATCHING THE SURFACE, LIKE WE SAID.

WE WILL HAVE YOU BACK.

I APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON THE SHOW TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THESE CHANGES MEAN AND WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THAT IS IT FOR THIS EVENING.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

STAY TUNED.

STAY INFORMED.