MENTAL HEALTH ACT

Question 1

What is the Mental Health Act ?

Answer 1

• applies to individuals with a mental disorder in some particular situations
• person with a mental disorder can be apprehended, detained and/or given treatment in a hospital or community under specified conditions
• people’s rights

Question 2

Criteria for Certificate

Answer 2

• is suffering from mental disorder
• has the potential to benefit from treatment for the mental disorder
• likely to cause harm to others or suffer negative effects with in a reasonable time
• unsuitable for admission to a facility other than as a formal patient

Question 3

What is Mental Disorder ?

Answer 3

• disorder of thought, mood, perception, orientation or memory that grossly impairs judgment, behaviour, capacity to recognize reality or ability to meet the ordinary demands of life

Question 4

What does a mental disorder NOT include?

Answer 4

• a disorder which the resulting impairment is persistent and is caused solely by an acquired or congenital irreversible brain injury

Question 5

Who can apprehend a person with mental disorder?

Answer 5

physician, nurse practitioner or judge may order the individual to be picked up by the police to be taken to hospital to be examined.

Question 6

Define Conveyance

Answer 6

being transported to the hospital (usually a police officer)

Question 7

What happens if all 4 of the criteria are not met?

Answer 7

• person may be invited to stay voluntarily. If they refuse, they must be released from the hospital

Question 8

What does Appealing Certification mean?

Answer 8

When a certificate is written, the patient has a legal right to appeal the certificate.

Question 9

How does the Review Panel work?

Answer 9

Panel Chair (Lawyer) will arrange a hearing that will take place in the hospital

Question 10

List the four people that are usually present in the Review Panel

Answer 10

Chairperson (Lawyer), Physician, Psychiatrist, a member of the General Public