N = 1: An old friend of mine has a mentally ill niece in her 50's. The family would love it if they could force her into hospitalization when needed. Their c

N = 1: An old friend of mine has a mentally ill niece in her 50's. The family would love it if they could force her into hospitalization when needed. Their current reality - the niece goes off her meds at least once every couple years, and skips town. They get to play amateur detectives yet again, trying to figure out where she's gone this time - mostly based on the angry rants she leaves on their answering machines. (Death threats are par for the course. Best not to think about how she's making ends meet when living on the street.) Eventually (so far) they've always managed to find her, and cajole her (typically with local law enforcement help) into returning home and getting back on her meds. But her family is getting older. And what there is of a "next generation" doesn't seem too interested in taking up this cross.