What is the difference between voluntary and involuntary commitment?

Voluntary commitment in New York is a voluntary placement for mental health treatment in an inpatient setting. This means that a person with a mental illness has some insight into their condition and requests to be admitted for treatment on their own free will. Voluntary commitment also means that the person can leave the facility at any point while they are admitted and continue with their treatment as an outpatient. Involuntary commitment in New York is a court-ordered placement for mental health treatment in an inpatient or outpatient setting. This means that a person with a mental illness does not have insight into their condition and is placed in an inpatient setting by a court order. The person is not allowed to leave the facility until they are evaluated by a professional and deemed fit to do so. It also means that they cannot receive outpatient treatment until they are released from the inpatient facility.

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