5150

 By Peggy Kelly & Karen Ready

5150 is important you see,

You must get the law straight

Or in trouble you’ll be

So pull out the book

And go over the rules-

Carefully evaluate –

And then listen to cues.

5150 can only be used

If you rule out other causes

And mental health is the fuse.

Due to mental disorder

The type you can’t see

One must be a danger to self, others

Or Gravely Disabled be.

The 5150 is written only by few

Who are trained, designated

By the Director to do

The intake-evaluation

Is detailed – it’s true

It conforms to the law

It’s according to the rules.

5150 is meant for safety

For both you and for me.

If one’s a danger to self,

Others or gravely disabled be

And refuses the hospital voluntarily

5150 is written

And off they’ll be.

5150 assesses emotions, intent

You maybe asked again

“Is that what you meant?”

Sir, madam, do you have

That rope, car or tree

Or a method planned out

Just so Pre-cise-ily?

Do you intend danger

To your self or others?

Was that threat, with intent,

You said to your brothers?

We’ll go ask your family,

Your friends, and some foes

If knowing you now,

Presents more cause for woes.

Are you currently desperate

Fearful enough to be

You know, that criteria,

The infamous three?

Well, if a safety plan

You can’t promise to endorse,

If we don’t feel you’re safe,

Oh, we will transport you

To the psychiatric hospital.

The 5150 will, of course, continue

There, doctor, social worker and nurse

As a team will assess.

They’ll ask you your name,

Then your age and address.

Now some of the hospitals

Are really - quite nice.

But if you visit on a 5150

That hospital comes with a price.

You see, 5150’s

Are not voluntary –

They are a means of holding you

Tem-po-rari-ly.

Holding you up to 72 hours

Against your will

Is not what anyone

Would consider a thrill.

Will the 5150

Ever come to an end?

Yes, of course, it will,

I say to you, my friend.

You will be heard

By those who count, a few

Who help you to realize

That you have great value.

The world would suffer

Such an enormous loss

If you had died,

Oh, at what a cost!

Or, if someone else,

In a moment, you had killed

Such a loss great to all –

A community to heal.

If of the famous three,

You had been G.D.

You’ll leave with a wellness plan

We’ll connect you indeed.

There’s the Mental Health staff,

And Aurora is free

Your arms are enwrapped

To a community.

Aurora will introduce you

To a Wellness Recovery Action Plan

This, will be the work

You painstakingly do -

With support from all

You’ll see the plan through

To prevent repetition