Bowser has pointed out, and I can back him up, that it's dreadfully difficult to get someone with a mental illness into treatment if he or she doesn't want to go. This mom only has the authority until her son is 18. Then he can refuse, and there's nothing that can be done about it unless and until he demonstrates that he's a threat to himself or others. She can also get a restraining order, but that cuts both ways: if he's not allowed to come close to her, she is not supposed to go near him either.

Furthermore, once someone is committed involuntarily, he or she is entitled to a visit from a patients' rights rep. This is a necessary activity to prevent relatives from putting away an inconvenient relative, or from gaining control of a wealthy but emotionally frail relative's estate. Except in the case of the truly delusional or the stupid mentally ill person, the patient can figure out how to answer the rep's questions after the 30-day involuntary commitment period in order to be released even if more treatment is needed.

It's a terrible problem.