Clients in immediate risk
The skills needed to deal effectively with clients in immediate risk are developed through a process of practice and evaluation with support and feedback from appropriate supervision.
Generally, if service providers have any concerns that a client may commit suicide, it is best to refer them to help. In most communities, this means taking one of the following actions:
- Accompanying the client to the nearest emergency department of a hospital.
- Calling 911.
- Contacting a mobile crisis team if one exists in the community.
If the client does not co-operate and the service provider has immediate concerns, the local police may be contacted for assistance. Clients who are at an immediate and substantial risk of harming themselves or others may need to be hospitalized, either voluntarily or involuntarily. Admission to a psychiatric facility is mandated under the Mental Health Act if a person is suffering from a mental illness and is deemed to be at an imminent and substantial risk of harming themselves. Involuntary admission was discussed in Module 1.
The Forensic Mental Health System
This is the point at which the legal and mental health systems interact. When someone with a mental health problem comes in contact with the law as a result of committing a crime, they may be assessed by the mental health system to help determine their understanding and level of responsibility for the crime which they are being accused.
Featured resource: The Forensic Mental Health System in Ontario: An Information Guide
This guide provides detailed information about the system in Ontario, the process and how to access help for clients
Read the guide