3. Understand the assessment process
Question & Answer
What is a mental health Form 1?Once you arrive at the , you can be kept there for up to 72 hours, even if you don’t want to stay.
During your time in the facility, a doctor must complete a of you. The doctor who assesses you cannot be the same person as the doctor who signed the Form 1.
The doctor at the facility should begin to assess you as soon as they can.
To assess you, the doctor will usually ask you questions, listen to your answers, and observe how you behave. They may also get information from others, such as:
- your family
- people that know you well
- your regular doctor or the doctor who signed the Form 1
- facility staff members who have interacted with you
But the assessment process can be different from person to person.
Difference between assessment and treatment
There is a difference between “assessment” and “”.
An assessment is when your doctor tries to understand your health situation, usually by collecting information about your health. If you’re in the facility because of a Form 1, your doctor can assess you even if you don’t give your permission.
Treatment is when your doctor tries to do something to improve your health or prevent it from getting worse. Treatment includes giving you medicine. If you’re in the facility because of a Form 1, your doctor cannot treat you, unless you or your give them your permission.
After 72 hours
The doctor at the facility should try to finish assessing you as soon as possible. If they don’t finish before the end of the 72 hours, the facility staff must let you leave the facility if you want to.
If they finish assessing you, the doctor at the facility lets you know their decision and what your choices are.
