What is a Form 2?

1
What is a Form 2?

• Order for Examination under Section 16 of the
  Mental Health Act
• Guarantees an examination by a physician Not
  admission
• Issued by a Justice of the Peace
• The form is legal for issue by the police for 7
  days

2
What Is a Form 2?

• Three criteria
• self care,
• danger to self,
• danger to others
• Since Brians Law there is also a subsection
  for previous treatment

3
Who Can Apply?

• Anybody who has knowledge of a person who fits
  the criteria
• Generally requested by family members, friends or
  workers
• Hearsay evidence is permissible

4
The Form Itself

• Three specific categories and two sections
• Part A deals with present, what the person is
  doing at this time
• Part B deals with previous treatment and history
  of illness
• For Form 2 you do not need a SDM

5
The Criteria

• There are 3 criteria
• Bodily harm to the person or self
• Danger to others, threat or actual statement/act
  of violence to others
• Self care, lack of competence to care for self or
  serious physical impairment to the person

6
Bodily Harm to the Person or Self

• This is where you report on behaviour/beliefs
  that are currently or in the future will result
  in actual harm
• Suicide, walking in traffic, provocative or lack
  of clothing
• ALWAYS do a risk assessment

7
Danger to Others, Threat or Actual Statement/act
of Violence to Others

• Can be real or implied
• Indicate your opinion of the risk level and your
  estimation of seriousness
• Give supportive examples

8
Self care, lack of competence to care for self or
serious physical impairment of the person

• Can be neglect of a medical condition, can be
  related to dress, can be related to physical
  environment, can be related to physical
  appearance
• Give supportive examples

9
Part B

• Slightly different in that it allows for previous
  treatment and a pre-existing illness
• When using this section, try to have approximate
  dates and the most recent place of treatment
• Differs from Form 1 you do not need to account
  for competency

10
Form 2 Checklist

• Refer to Handout 2-7

11
Hints and Guidelines

• Fill out the form 2 yourself, the Justices like
  this, it makes it easier for them and ultimately
  improves your chances of success.
• Write a letter (on agency letterhead) detailing
  clients behaviour, both current and past (see
  handout 2-8)
• This letter should support your evidence for the
  form. Use the checklist as a guide for the
  evidence.

12

• Give examples and use strong words.
• Strong words include
• assaultive, extreme, filthy, distressed,
  debilitated, and substandard.
• Always use your agency letterhead, it is a
  powerful and hard to ignore tool.

13
Letter

• In the letter include
• your name,
• Agency
• professional designation,
• any contact numbers (cell and office) and an
  encouragement to call.
• If possible, get permission from other
  professionals to include information from them
  such as contact phone numbers (cell and land
  lines), collateral documentation etc.
• For a sample letter, see Handout 2-8

14

• Call the emergency rooms at the very least. Its
  always better to attend in person and advocate
  for your client.
• Answer your phone when it rings

15

• Always bring at least 2 copies of all supporting
  documentation
• Save a copy on computer disk
• Ask the Justice to staple a copy to the form
• If you have a business card, use it to introduce
  yourself to the justice
• Include the card with the documentation

16

• Hand deliver the form to the police station
  yourself
• Do this as soon as you get the form
• If the person is treated at a specific hospital,
  ask to have the Justice to indicate it on the
  form
• Reiterate this request to the police
• Get a case report number from the police and
  record it in your notes

17

• Before going to the police, try to find out where
  your client is
• Make others aware that you have a form and that
  it is being issued
• Do your follow up!!!!!!!
• PROMPTLY RETURN CALLS FROM THE HOSPITAL- promptly
  means that day ASAP

18
Supportive Documentation

• At the very least, include a brief letter (use
  the sample guideline)
• If possible, include recent assessments,
  especially if they indicate a change in status
• Ask other professionals to provide a supporting
  letter