Should mental health treatment be forced if someone needs care, but refuses it?

A new podcast from KUOW and The Seattle Times sets out to explore why so many people with severe mental illnesses — who make up 7% of the state's population — go untreated in Washington.

Episode 2 of Lost Patients focuses on "involuntary commitment," a legal mechanism that allows someone to be forced into medical treatment if they are deemed a danger to themselves, a danger to others, or are gravely disabled.

Oftentimes, families seek out involuntary commitment when a loved one is dealing with severe mental health issues — like episodes of psychosis — but will not accept care.

While the latest episode of Lost Patients focuses on one family's struggle to get their son into involuntary commitment, those who are forced into treatment don't always agree it's the best avenue for individualized care.

RELATED: His mom worried he’d wind up dead. But getting him committed was nearly impossible

Soundside host Libby Denkmann spoke with Laura Van Tosh, who was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and first received involuntary treatment 40 years ago. Her diagnosis has since been changed to bipolar disorder, and she was involuntarily committed again two years ago, when she spent a few weeks at St. Anne’s Hospital in Burien.

Van Tosh is now a patient advocate, and believes our system needs more alternatives for mental health care before forcing someone into a hospital. She’s also the founder and convener of Mental Health Policy Roundtable, a professional knowledge exchange program.

Listen to Soundside's full conversation with Van Tosh by clicking the "play" icon at the top of this story, and listen to full episodes of Lost Patients wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about the six-part series here.

Lost Patients is a collaboration between The Seattle Times and KUOW Public Radio, in partnership with the NPR Network.