Background slide

In New York, an individual with a mental illness may be involuntarily committed if they are deemed "likely to result in serious harm to themself or others". This definition includes 3 elements: "1. substantial risk of physical harm to themself as manifested by threats of or attempts at suicide or serious bodily harm or other conduct demonstrating that they are dangerous to themself, or 2. a substantial risk of physical harm to other persons as manifested by homicidal or other violent behavior by which others are placed in reasonable fear or serious physical harm, or 3. a substantial risk of physical harm to the person due to an inability or refusal, as a result of their mental illness, to provide for their own essential needs such as food, clothing, necessary medical care, personal safety, or shelter."