Posted on: January 30, 2024
Proper Mental Health Act Form completion is a crucial part of protecting the rights of patients certified under the Mental Health Act, and is required by law.
All B.C. health authorities are required to implement the new Mental Health Act (MHA) medical certificates (Forms 4.1 and 4.2) by January 31, 2024. The old medical certificate (Form 4) will no longer be legally recognized effective February 1, 2024.
The new medical certificates require significant practice changes for physicians, leaders, nurse practitioners and nursing staff that you need to be aware. Full practice change expectations can be found in the What’s New page of Island Health’s Mental Health Act intranet site and on the Medical Affairs’ Mental Health Act web page. If you have any questions about this provincially-mandated change please contact MHASupport@islandhealth.ca