[header] How to avoid psychiatric commitment in california [title] Consult a patients' rights advocate. [step] Patients' rights advocates are present in every mental health facility in california. Their job is to explain your rights to you and advocate for your best interests in the commitment proceedings. 
[substeps] The patient advocate has no clinical or administrative responsibility for any mental health services you receive while you are undergoing evaluation. The patient advocate is not your attorney, and cannot give you legal advice.