Mental health care and your rights
Your mental health rights
Mental health care: the law
If you cannot make your own decisions about your treatment, the law says when you can be assessed, treated, cared for and supported.
Advance Agreements
Decide in advance your preferences for mental health treatment and arrangements for your pets and property.
Your decision-making capacity
How we assess if you're able to make your own decisions about your treatment.
Appointing a nominated person when you're unwell
How to appoint someone to help you express your interests and choices for treatment and care.
Applying for an assessment order
An assessment to decide if someone needs treatment, care and support for a mental illness or disorder.
Involuntary mental health assessment
If you’re taken to a mental health facility for assessment or treatment to protect your health and safety.
Seclusion and restraint
If you become a threat to yourself or others, you may be secluded or restrained. Find out when it can happen, who approves it, and how long it lasts.
Correctional patients
Transferring patients with a mental illness from a correctional centre to an approved mental health facility.
Mental health orders
If there's a risk of harm to you or someone else, we may make a mental health order if you do not have decision-making capacity or you refuse help.
Mental health care complaints and support services
Help with complaints: Official Visitors
Get help to complain about mental health services if you’re in a government operated or community facility.
Contacts for Mental Health Act questions
Get help and advice from ACT Government and community organisations.
Important terms used in the Mental Health Act
Help to understand terms used when treating mental health conditions.