Saks, who has schizophrenia, is well-acquainted with the rougher edges of the system that processes the mentally ill in the United States.
She has devoted a large portion of her legal career to advocating against inappropriate use of restraints, which were used to hold her down for 20 hours at a time during one of her first psychotic episodes many years ago. Involuntary commitments like these caused deep psychological scars that have stuck with her for decades, Saks says.
She also believes they saved her life.