Clinically Significant Differences among Canadian Mental Health Acts: 2016.

Abstract

Objectives:First, to highlight the major differences among mental health acts in different Canadian jurisdictions as they relate to involuntary admission criteria, treatment authorization, review and appeal procedures, and conditional leave and community treatment orders. Second, to analyze the impact of these differences on the care that individuals with mental illness receive.Method:We examined the mental health act provisions of all Canadian jurisdictions to determine how the clinical management of a typical case would differ among jurisdictions. We used a statement of principles for mental health legislation endorsed by the Canadian Psychiatric Association to guide the analysis. We confirmed interpretation of each act and its implementation through key informant contact in each province and territory.Results:We found clinically significant differences among the provinces and territories on all major components of their mental health acts.Conclusion:Provisions that prevent patients receiving appropriat...