5051 meaning

 5150 is the number of the section of the Welfare and Institutions Code, which allows a person with a mental challenge to be involuntarily detained for a 72-hour psychiatric hospitalization. A person on a 5150 can be held in the psychiatric hospital against their will for up to 72 hours.

Citation https://ferc.org/crisis/#113

What makes someone eligible for a 5150?

A person can be held against their will in a psychiatric facility only if they meet at least one of the three basic criteria listed:

1. The person is a danger to others. Historically, the courts have most often interpreted this in a very restrictive way. Before the passing of AB 1194, it must be generally shown that an imminent threat exists, and that someone will do so immediately. Now, danger to others may be interpreted as the person means to carry out the threat. The threat must also be substantially related to the mental health challenge.
2. If the person is a danger to self. The courts generally interpret this as a life-threatening danger to self (i.e. suicide).
3. If the person is gravely disabled. The law states that a person must be unable to provide for their own food, clothing or shelter as the result of a mental challenge to qualify as gravely disabled. Across California jurisdictions, "grave disability as the result of a mental illness" is interpreted differently. Courts generally rule a person is not gravely disabled (even if they are incapacitated) if they have friends or family who will provide food, clothing, or shelter for them. This is important, as 'having a place to go' and 'having someone to provide for them’ influences decisions as to whether to release a loved one. It is important to discuss as a family whether you are able to take a loved one home with you and safely provide care for them at this time.