Alberta Health Services | Health Professionals | A Summary of Changes:

“Health Professionals Home > Health Professionals > Mental Health Amendment Act > A Summary of Changes Mental Health Amendment Act – A Summary of Changes The Mental Health Act of Alberta was proclaimed January 1, 1990. There have been a number of amendments since that date related to treatment; however, the involuntary and detainment provisions, known as criteria for certification, have remained unchanged. To ensure the act remains responsive to the needs of involuntary patients and to provide a community treatment option that continues to provide safeguards, supports and supervision, the Minister of Health and Wellness initiated the process to examine the Mental Health Act in 2004. The Mental Health Amendment Act (MHAA) is the result of that review. Based on input from written and oral submissions, a number of amendments were put forward to the legislature. The Mental Health Amendment Act received Royal Assent on December 7, 2007. Proclamation for the first two amendments (1) Change in Criteria for Certification (2) Notification to Physicians will occur September 30, 2009. The third amendment, Community Treatment Orders, will occur January 1, 2010. This document provides an overview of the three major amendments to the Mental Health Act. The criteria for involuntary admission changes from ‘danger’ to ‘harm,’ including mental or physical deterioration or impairment, which will permit earlier intervention (September 30, 2009), Ongoing treatment plans/recommendations are to be provided to an individual’s family physician, if known, upon discharge from a facility (September 30, 2009), and The introduction of community treatment orders to encourage compliance and success with mental health treatment in the community (January 1, 2010).”