Hot Topics in Mental Health and Law: Civil Commitment

The University of Washington’s Center for Mental Health, Policy, and the Law hosted an eight-session webinar series on civil commitment. Civil commitment, or involuntary commitment, is a legal intervention by which a person with serious mental illness, or other criteria, may be ordered to a psychiatric hospital or receive supervised outpatient treatment for some period of time. Recent changes in the laws governing civil commitment across the country have fueled the longstanding debate about the role of civil commitment, understanding the balance between ensuring public welfare and protecting one’s civil liberties, and providing quality health care services within the mental health care continuum. 

This series brought together an array of experts, including clinicians, legal professionals, educators, policymakers, and individuals with lived experience. The speakers provided foundational as well as advanced content on civil commitment laws and processes, ethical considerations, and clinical practices for caring for persons with mental illness.

The series was intended to be useful to both professional and community audiences.  

Presentations

November 12, 2024

Civil Commitment 101: Overview of History and Current Practices” (Recording available)
Shadoe Jones, JD

December 13, 2024

“Civil Commitment Through the Ethics Lens: How We Got Here” (Recording available)
Philip Candilis, MD

January 7, 2025

Designated Crisis Responders and the Involuntary Treatment Act in Washington State” (Recording available)
Dawn Macready-Santos, LICSW, and Laura Pippin, MSP

February 4, 2025

“Lived Experiences with Civil Commitment” (Recording available)
Laura Van Tosh, Karen Schilde, and Carolynn Ponzoha

March 4, 2025

“An Academic-State-Community Partnership to Create a CBT Continuum of Care for Involuntary Committees in Washington State” (Recording available)
Sarah Kopelovich, PhD, ABPP

April 1, 2025

“Navigating Juvenile Involuntary Commitment in Washington State” (Recording available)
Shawgi Silver, MD, MPHS

May 13, 2025

“Policy Perspectives on Washington’s Continuum of Care for Severe Mental Illness” (Recording available)
Manka Dhingra, JD

June 10, 2025

“A Panel Discussion on the Civil Commitment Hot Topics Series” (Recording available)
Philip Candilis, MD; Manka Dhingra, JD; Shadoe Jones, JD; Sarah Kopelovich, PhD, ABPP; Dawn Macready-Santos, LICSW; Laura Pippin, MSP; Shawgi Silver, MD; Laura Van Tosh

Learning objectives

  1. Understand the origins and development of civil commitment in the U.S.
  2. Become familiar with the standards and processes for civil commitment in Washington state
  3. Recognize ethical considerations in civil commitment
  4. Appreciate clinical guides and services in the treatment of persons with mental illness who are involved in civil commitment
  5. Understand common scenarios encountered by persons with lived experience with civil commitment
  6. Become familiar with policy considerations in the evaluation, implementation, and reform of civil commitment.