Britney is an example...

Early Thursday morning Britney Spears was involuntarily hospitalized under California’s under Section 5150 of California's Welfare and Institutions Code. Authorities say despite the paparazzi involvement, Britney’s involuntary commitment is just like the other 20 to 25 involuntary committments the LAPD has each day.

Despite Spears' celebrity, the decision to have her committed involved elements that are typical for many mental health cases in California, said Randall Hagar, head of governmental affairs for the California Psychiatric Assn.

As Spears’ again makes headlines, we hope that she gets effective treatment, and that her story will help increase public understanding of what families all across the country go through to help their loved-one get treatment.

Cases typically involve a family desperate for treatment for a loved one, a patient who appears functional one moment and severely ill the next, and an imperfect legal system struggling to mediate it all, Hagar said.

"Every family will tell you how much they fail before they can finally get a hospitalization," Hagar said.

"I sure hope the conversation shifts from the paparazzi and all of that to how many people in this state and this country need mental health services and don't receive them," said State Sen. Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento).