Mental Health Act (Sections)
Voluntary admission:
SECTION 131 - The patient can be admitted for care and treatment without any formal restrictions, and they’re also free to leave at any time.
Involuntary admission:
SECTION 2 - The patient needs to be admitted for further assessment. It lasts for up to 28 days, and can’t be renewed. Two doctors are needed.
SECTION 3 - The patient needs to be admitted for medical treatment. It lasts for up to 6 months, and can be renewed. Two doctors are needed.
Emergency admission:
SECTION 4 - An outpatient needs to be admitted, but it’s not possible to wait for a section 2. It lasts for up to 72 hours. One doctor is needed.
SECTION 5(2) - An inpatient needs to detained and kept in hospital. It lasts for up to 72 hours. One doctor is needed.
SECTION 5(4) - The same as section 5(2), but a nurse can do it. It lasts for up to 6 hours.
Police involved:
SECTION 135 - Police need to enter private property, by force, to remove a person suffering from a mental health disorder and take them to a place of safety. It lasts for up to 24 hours.
SECTION 136 - Police are in public and need to remove a person suffering from a mental health disorder and take them to a place of safety. It lasts for up to 24 hours.
