Seeking treatment for a loved one in Virginia

The Roanoke Times delves into the horribly difficult process of seeking treatment for a loved one with anosognosia in Virginia. Unfortunately, part of that difficulty can also be attributed to Virginia’s community services boards (CSB’s) – the group tasked to provide community mental health services in Virginia. Despite the fact that outpatient commitment has been on the books for years, it’s clear that they are woefully unaware of their own state’s laws. In fact, the director of one CSB recently admitted, “We’re not clear how it will work… We’re trying to get the process in place.”

In the face of challenges like these, it is vitally important that families have all the information they can before a crisis occurs. More on seeking treatment for a loved one is available here.

Enough excuses – it’s time to take civil commitment laws seriously

It is heartening that there is a serious investigation of the failure to follow-up on court-ordered mental health treatment for Seung-Hui Cho who was determined to be “imminently dangerous.” But, the local Community Services Board (CSB) seems to be digging itself a bigger hole all the time with excuses.

First, when told that Virginia law requires the CSB to recommend treatment and monitor care for a court-ordered outpatient, a CSB spokesman responded - that’s "news to us."

Now, the CSB’s executive director says that “his agency was never notified that Cho was a candidate for outpatient treatment and was never ordered to devise a treatment plan as required by state law” – because no CSB representatives attend commitment hearings.

But, the CSB had to know about Cho. Unlike many other states, the CSB is the sole gatekeeper in VA. Nobody even gets before a special justice for a civil commitment hearing unless the CSB approves. I doubt the Legislature intended that the CSBs only be responsible for keeping people out of civil commitment. The statute ensures the CSBs evaluate all individuals before they enter the civil commitment process - so they always have notice of which individuals are in trouble.

Leading people to the door for commitment without meeting them when they come out is not a good excuse.