TIFS Investigates: The state of mental health commitments across Arkansas impacts those affected by the madness
- Dennis McCaslin
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
Arkansas’ public agencies face ongoing challenges in addressing mental health, particularly with involuntary commitments, where individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others are detained for treatment.
Over the past decade, reforms have aimed to improve care, but understaffing, limited facilities, and outdated practices persist. This feature examines these issues, the history of commitments, and recent changes.
Mental health care in Arkansas has long been underfunded. The Arkansas State Hospital (ASH), opened in 1883, once housed over 5,000 patients but now has just 234 beds. Community mental health centers (CMHCs) provide outpatient care and crisis services, but staffing shortages and inconsistent quality limit their impact.
Over 36,000 adolescents face major depressive episodes annually, and pediatricians often handle behavioral health due to a lack of specialists.
Involuntary Commitments
Governed by Arkansas Code § 20-47-207, involuntary commitments require a court petition proving “clear and present danger” due to mental illness. The process, involving hearings within 72 hours, is complex and often inaccessible for families.
Critics highlight stringent criteria and potential misuse, while gaps in reporting commitments to federal firearm background checks raise safety concerns.
Systemic Challenges
Public agencies, including the Department of Human Services and CMHCs, struggle with:
Understaffing and low standards, with some facilities employing minimally trained staff, leading to inadequate care.
A shortage of psychiatric beds, forcing reliance on emergency rooms or jails.
Overlap with the criminal justice system, where untreated individuals are often incarcerated.
Limited reach of crisis stabilization units and Mental Health Courts.
Changes Since 2015
Recent reforms include:
2023 laws incentivizing integrated behavioral health, interstate counseling, and mandatory screenings.
Increased funding for CMHCs, though still insufficient.
Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) as a less restrictive alternative, with uneven implementation.
The 988 Crisis Lifeline, launched in 2022, to divert cases from detention.
Despite progress, a 2021 study noted a 25% rise in mental health cases since COVID-19, and short-term commitments often fail to provide lasting treatment.
Voices and Outlook
Advocates like Reagan Stanford of Disability Rights Arkansas call for higher standards and community-based care. Families describe the commitment process as exhausting and uncertain. Arkansas needs more psychiatric beds, better staffing, and expanded AOT to reduce reliance on coercive measures.
As legislative studies continue, a focus on prevention and early intervention is critical to address the state’s mental health crisis.
