Mental Health
4. Times of Crisis
Authors: Staff Legal Eagle
Firm / Chambers:
Last updated: 14 Aug 2015
- If you are experiencing a mental health crisis you should be aware that doctors, nursing staff and the police might become involved in your life. This is both to help and protect you and to ensure the safety of others. It is often the case that the police may be the first on scene to respond to a mental health crisis situation. Medical staff including a specialised mental health team such as a Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team (CATT) or an ambulance may also be in attendance. This will depend on the severity of the situation you find yourself in, how it was drawn to the attention of the relevant health services and whether you pose a threat to yourself or others.
- More information about CATT teams can be found at:
- If you present a danger to yourself or others the police and other medical professionals may be called to take you to the closest hospital for a mental health assessment and possible treatment.
- After your admission to hospital you may wish to contact your lawyer or other advocate to discuss the next stage of your medical treatment and to make arrangements for while you are in hospital.
- If you already have a plan to deal with an ongoing mental health issue then you may have an advance directive in place to assist you. Ideally you should make sure that a person close to you, your lawyer, your doctor and your psychiatrist each have a copy of your advance directive.
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