One in two Americans with a serious mental illness will be arrested in their lifetime, and individuals with serious mental illness in Washington remain ten times more prevalent in a forensic or correctional setting than in a state hospital. There is a tremendous need in our state for research that is focused on mental health and the law and to provide guidance to policy makers on best practices to improve health and justice outcomes. With this backdrop in mind, we are exploring an exciting partnership with the UW School of Law to navigate the complex intersection of mental health and the law.

Several of our faculty and staff met with Dean Tamara Lawson, JD and other members of the law school to discuss potential collaborations. High interest items included establishing a mental health law clinic for people seeking consultation involving both legal and mental health concerns, and a review of Washington State’s civil commitment system with the aim of suggesting potential improvements. Other ideas included finding ways to better support first responders when they encounter individuals in a mental health- or addiction-related crisis, and helping trainees in both law and medicine learn from each other so they are better equipped to help clients and patients navigate our complex legal and mental health systems. We will continue to meet and brainstorm possible collaborations in the coming year and welcome additional ideas and proposals. Please reach out to Andie Uomoto, MPA if you are interested in getting involved.