Compassionate Advocacy: Understanding Your Mental Health Rights
In the realm of mental health care, understanding your rights and having a reliable support system can make a significant difference. At TinyEYE, we are committed to offering online therapy services to schools, ensuring that mental health support is accessible to everyone. However, knowing where to turn when you need help is equally important. That's where the Mental Health Patient Advocate comes in.
Who is the Mental Health Patient Advocate?
The Mental Health Patient Advocate is a dedicated service provided free of charge to individuals receiving care under specific conditions of the Mental Health Act. This includes those under admission or renewal certificates or a community treatment order (CTO). The Advocate is independent and not affiliated with any provincial health authority, hospital, clinic, or treatment team. Their primary role is to assist patients, family members, and health care providers by providing rights information, investigating complaints, and educating about Alberta’s mental health legislation.
Services Offered by the Mental Health Patient Advocate
- Complaints: The Advocate investigates complaints related to mental health care and ensures that these investigations are conducted privately. Information obtained is only shared as required by law or as part of the Advocate’s duties.
- Advocacy: They work tirelessly to ensure that the rights of patients and their families are upheld and respected.
- Rights Education: The Advocate provides presentations and resources to educate individuals about their rights under the Mental Health Act.
Understanding Your Rights
For patients detained in hospitals under admission or renewal certificates, or those under a CTO, several rights are guaranteed. These include:
- Receiving information about their certificates or CTO.
- Applying to the Review Panel to cancel their certificates or CTO.
- Appealing any Review Panel decision to the Court of Queen’s Bench.
- Accessing their health records.
- Being informed when their detention or CTO has ended.
- Contacting a lawyer or the Mental Health Patient Advocate.
Rights of Families
Families also have specific rights, particularly if they have a member under two admission or renewal certificates or a CTO:
- Receiving information about the patient's detention and discharge, unless the patient objects.
- Applying to the Review Panel to cancel the certificates or CTO.
- Providing consent to a CTO under certain circumstances.
- Receiving information about the CTO if they are chosen to make treatment decisions.
- Contacting the Mental Health Patient Advocate for support.
How to Reach the Mental Health Patient Advocate
If you have questions or concerns, the Mental Health Patient Advocate is here to help. They offer compassion, hope, and help to all who reach out. For more information, you can contact them:
- By Telephone: Edmonton area 780-422-1812, Outside Edmonton free of charge 310-0000
- In Writing: Mental Health Advocate, Office of the Alberta Health Advocates, 106th Street Tower - 9th Floor, 10055 -106th Street, Edmonton, AB T5J 2Y2
- Fax: 780-422-0695
- Visit their website at www.albertahealthadvocates.ca
For more information, please follow this link.
