Mental Health, Law and Policy

Catalog description

This course explores how law and public policy shape the treatment, rights, and experiences of people with mental illness. Students examine mental health as a medical, legal, and social issue while considering the tensions between individual rights, public safety, and access to care. Topics include involuntary commitment, confidentiality, competency, disability rights, policing and crisis response, treatment courts, addiction, homelessness, and emerging issues involving artificial intelligence and social media. Using case studies, legal decisions, and policy analysis, students will evaluate the effectiveness and fairness of mental health laws and policies. The course also critically examines Philadelphia's mental health ecosystem to understand how courts, healthcare providers, government agencies, and community organizations work together to serve individuals with mental health needs