A Form 1 is a legal tool completed by a physician that allows a person to be detained at a hospital for up to 72 hours so that their mental health can be examined. A person may subsequently be admitted as a voluntary or involuntary psychiatric patient OR sent home at any time before 72 hours has passed. In order to be placed on a Form 1, a person must meet certain criteria under the Mental Health Act.
When a person is placed on a Form 1, it is often said that they have been "formed". A person on a Form 1 does not have a right to legally challenge the Form.
Often we assist family members to succinctly explain why they believe their loved one should be placed on a Form 1. It is important to understand the purpose of the Form 1 and when it can be issued so that the most relevant information is shared with the busy doctors.
Want to learn more about forms under the Mental Health Act? You may enjoy our Mental Health Law 101 course for family caregivers. We created this course for folks who are beginning to interact with the mental health system and feeling overwhelmed by how much they don't know.
This course was designed to act like a library. Rather than require you to go through the course from start to finish, the lessons are crafted to answer specific questions. We spoke to dozens of family caregivers and learned they want quick access to information. So feel feel to dive into a lesson that addresses where you're at in your caregiving journey.
through a difficult time?
