Posted on: December 19, 2023
The Mental Health Act Infobits monthly newsletter highlights MHA educational supports, resources and provincial updates to support your practice. December 2023 topic is about using a
Judicial Warrant to start an involuntary admission when other methods are not possible.
Sometimes it is not possible for family or others to persuade a person with an apparent mental disorder, who appears to require psychiatric inpatient treatment, to be examined by a physician. The other usual methods for starting an involuntary admission (i.e.: completion of Form 4.1 Section 1 in the community or use of Section 28 by police) may not be possible.
In such situations, section 28 (3) of the Mental Health Act provides the option to apply to a judge, or to a justice of the peace if a judge is not available, for a warrant. This Judicial Warrant provides the legal authority for police to take the person to a designated facility for a psychiatric assessment by a physician.
The December 2023 issue of MHA Infobits helps to explain the Judicial Warrant process with links to valuable resources.
The December issue is available for direct download and will soon be available through the MHA Intranet site.
Tune into The Weekly for your new issue of MHA Infobits every month. You can read past issues of MHA Infobits on the MHA Intranet site.
Comments and questions or newsletter topic suggestions can be sent to MHASupport@islandhealth.ca