Results for: Involuntary Treatment

In Oregon, people with severe mental illness often go untreated until they commit a crime due to high standards for involuntary care. A family’s experience highlights the stark contrast between Oregon’s approach and the more proactive treatment available in New York, where their son received the medication and care he needed.
Oregon’s imminent danger requirement and limited civil beds leave many untreated and at risk of violence. While New York’s more accessible treatment facilities and mental health courts prioritize helping individuals like their son restore their mental competency.
The family believes Oregon’s system sets people up for failure and calls for improved involuntary treatment options and secure mental healthcare beds to prevent preventable tragedies.

The tragic story of Austin Graham highlights the shortcomings of Oregon’s mental healthcare system. Despite repeated attempts to get him help, Austin’s psychosis escalated until he murdered his mother. His father, Hunter, blames the system’s high standards for involuntary treatment, which prevented Austin from getting the care he needed before it was too late.