Baker Act: Changes are coming to Florida's mental health act

The new law goes into effect July 1

The new law goes into effect July 1

HAVE NEW GUIDELINES WHEN IT COMES TO PEOPLE GETTING EMERGENCY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT THE BAKER ACT WESH 2’S CHRISTINA WATKINS TELLS US ABOUT THE BILL GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS SIGNED INTO LAW AND THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS GOING TOWARD CRUCIAL CARE. FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE 1970S. CHANGES ARE COMING TO FLORIDA’S MENTAL HEALTH ACT, COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE BAKER ACT. IT FOCUSES ON CRISIS SERVICES FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS, GIVING THEM INVOLUNTARY TREATMENT DURING THEIR MEDICAL EMERGENCY. WE NEED IT ABSOLUTELY IN FLORIDA BECAUSE WHEN A PERSON IS IN THAT PLACE, THEY DON’T REALLY KNOW HOW TO GET BACK TO STABILIZATION, GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS RECENTLY SIGNED HOUSE BILL 7021 INTO LAW. THE NEW LEGISLATION EASES THE ABILITY TO GET THOSE INVOLUNTARY SERVICES. IT ALSO ALLOWS LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO PUSH MORE EASILY FOR INVOLUNTARY EXAMS WHEN NECESSARY. WAS IT DUE FOR A CHANGE? DID IT NEED A CHANGE? I THINK IT DID NEED A CHANGE AND I’M VERY HAPPY ABOUT THE CHANGE THAT WE HAVE NOW. ON THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT, WE ALSO HAVE TO TALK ABOUT SOME THINGS THAT MAY BE CONTROVERSIAL OR CHALLENGES WITH THIS CHANGE. LICENSED THERAPIST CHARLOTTE MCCULLOUGH SAYS THE NEW LAW IS A GOOD THING FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE, BUT SHE WANTS TO MAKE SURE OFFICERS GET THE PROPER TRAINING. HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE POLICE OFFICERS ARE NOT UNDER USING THIS, OR OVER USING IT, WHAT TYPE OF TRAINING THEY NEED NOW SO THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT TRICKLES DOWN TO BE POSITIVE IN THE COMMUNITY. MCCULLOUGH SAYS SHE ALSO WANTS TO MAKE SURE THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THE GOVERNOR APPROVED WITH THIS LEGISLATION MAKES IT INTO THE RIGHT HANDS. $50 MILLION IS GOING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE CARE. YOU’VE GOT TO SMILE. ABSOLUTELY. SO YOU DID SEE THAT, LIKE, BRIGHTEN MY FACE, RIGHT? BUT THE CHALLENGE WITH THAT IS WHEN DO THOSE FUNDS WHEN ARE THERE GOING TO BE RELEASED AND HOW WILL THEY REALLY BE DISPERSED IN OUR COMMUNITY? THE NEW LAW GOES INTO EFFECT JULY 1ST IN ORLANDO CHRISTINA WATKINS WESH TWO NEWS. RIGHT NOW ON WESH.COM YOU CAN FIND MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA. AND IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS IN A CRISIS, CALL OR TEXT 988, WHICH IS TH

Baker Act: Changes are coming to Florida's mental health act

The new law goes into effect July 1

Florida will have new guidelines for emergency mental health services starting next week.Commonly referred to as the Baker Act, it focuses on crisis services for people living with a mental illness and gives them involuntary treatment during a potential medical emergency.Gov. Ron DeSantis recently signed HB 7021 into law. This new legislation eases access to involuntary services and allows law enforcement officers to request involuntary exams more easily when necessary. WESH 2 spoke with Cherlette McCullough, a licensed mental health therapist. She said this change is an absolute need because "when a person is in that place, they don't really know how to get back to stabilization."At the same time, McCullough wants to make sure officers get the proper training. "How are we going to make sure that the police officers are not under-using this or over-using it?" McCullough said. "Figure out what type of training they need now so that this is something that trickles down to be positive in the community."Along with the legislation, the governor approved $50 million for the Department of Children and Families to provide mental health and substance abuse care. McCullough hopes this money goes to the right places. "When are those funds when are they going to be released? How will they really be dispersed in our community?" McCullough said. The new law goes into effect July 1.If you or someone you know is in a crisis, call or text 988, which is the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.Click here to find a list of free resources in Central Florida.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. —

Florida will have new guidelines for emergency mental health services starting next week.

Commonly referred to as the Baker Act, it focuses on crisis services for people living with a mental illness and gives them involuntary treatment during a potential medical emergency.

Gov. Ron DeSantis recently signed HB 7021 into law. This new legislation eases access to involuntary services and allows law enforcement officers to request involuntary exams more easily when necessary.

WESH 2 spoke with Cherlette McCullough, a licensed mental health therapist. She said this change is an absolute need because "when a person is in that place, they don't really know how to get back to stabilization."

At the same time, McCullough wants to make sure officers get the proper training.

"How are we going to make sure that the police officers are not under-using this or over-using it?" McCullough said. "Figure out what type of training they need now so that this is something that trickles down to be positive in the community."

Along with the legislation, the governor approved $50 million for the Department of Children and Families to provide mental health and substance abuse care.

McCullough hopes this money goes to the right places.

"When are those funds when are they going to be released? How will they really be dispersed in our community?" McCullough said.

The new law goes into effect July 1.

If you or someone you know is in a crisis, call or text 988, which is the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Click here to find a list of free resources in Central Florida.

Baker Act: Changes are coming to Florida's mental health act

The new law goes into effect July 1

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