Black residents of Boston are significantly more likely to face involuntary hospitalizations during mental health emergencies compared to their white counterparts, according to a new study. The findings highlight systemic disparities in the use of emergency mental health interventions and call for reforms to reduce reliance on police involvement.
Under Massachusetts law, commonly referred to as “Section 12s,” clinicians or police officers can initiate the process if an individual is deemed a danger to themselves or others. This triggers local EMS and police to transport the person to a facility for evaluation, potentially leading to up to three days of involuntary commitment.
The study revealed that over 40% of nearly 500 requests by healthcare providers for such hospitalizations in Boston were for Black individuals, even though they comprise less than 25% of the city’s population. Alarmingly, three out of four of these requests were made by clinicians who had not personally assessed the individuals involved.
