Examining Racial Disparities in Involuntary '302' Hospitalizations: Could AOT Change the Narrative for Black Patients?

As dusk settled over the Mon Wharf, Shyheim Banks, then 21, held a gun to his head while pleading with an emergency dispatcher for help. Just the day after Thanksgiving in 2017, he grappled with heartache and job stress, recognizing his need for assistance. Despite seeking help at three local hospitals, including UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital, Banks was diagnosed with acute depressive disorder and prescribed Zoloft. Unfortunately, he felt the treatment exacerbated his suicidal thoughts due to condescending staff interactions. His call for help was met not by an ambulance, but by police who transported him to UPMC Shadyside. Here, he encountered a “302” hospitalization – a contentious legal process allowing involuntary commitments. Racial disparities are evident; while Black individuals constitute 32% of the 302 patient population, they represent only 13% in Allegheny County. Efforts are underway to address these issues, including behavioral health responses to emergency calls and community-based treatment initiatives aimed at reducing systemic disparities.