The Mental Health Law defines the term ’mental disorder’ as ‘mental illness…..or any other disorder or disability of mind’. This would normally include mental health conditions such as:

• schizophrenia
• depression
• bipolar disorder
• anxiety disorder
• obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• eating disorders
• personality disorders

It also includes other conditions such as dementia, changes in behaviour due to brain injury, mental disorders due to drug use and autistic spectrum disorders.

If you have problems with alcohol or drug use, in practice you should only be detained if you have a mental disorder as well as a drug or alcohol problem.

When you are detained, three people must agree that you need to be detained in hospital.

Usually, the three people would be:

• A Mental Health Professional, referred to as a Duly Authorized Officer (usually a qualified social worker)
• two doctors

Normally they will make this decision by interviewing you.

• how you are feeling
• thoughts that you are having
• any plans you may have made to harm yourself or others
• your lifestyle
• your daily routine
• whether you have been taking your medication
• whether you have been using drugs or alcohol
• your living situation