New York City commits to involuntary commitment
Compulsory treatment of the severely mentally ill was once taboo. No longer
Walk down the passage connecting the subway on 34th Street-Herald Square to a commuter line bound for New Jersey and you will almost certainly see people sleeping rough. The tunnel is a warm spot on a bitter January night. A team of police officers and psychiatric clinicians approach the sleepers to check how they are doing, and if they agree, transport them to a shelter. The clinician may also determine if they need more pointed help, whether they want it or not.
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This article appeared in the United States section of the print edition under the headline “Crisis management”
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