Clinical and Legal Considerations Regarding Breastfeeding on Psychiatric Units.

Women in the postpartum period are at especially high risk of developing psychiatric disorders, and in severe cases, they may require inpatient psychiatric hospitalization. Because of the lack of specialized units for peripartum mothers in the United States, this treatment is usually relegated to general inpatient psychiatric units. Despite the clear benefit of breastfeeding for both mother and child, lactation can be a barrier to placement on a general inpatient psychiatric unit and often is not supported during the hospital stay.

Voting by People with Mental Illness.

While voting laws trend toward universal suffrage, there are still some who encounter barriers in exercising the right to vote. Citizens with mental illness or cognitive and emotional impairments are especially vulnerable to exclusion from the political process, contributing to disenfranchisement. Facilitating the process for hospitalized patients to vote can increase their agency and amplify their voices and concerns.