The compulsory assessment process
Step 3: Following the assessment examination
What happens after the assessment examination?
Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992, s 10
After the assessment examination, the health professional making the assessment must provide a certificate saying whether or not there are reasonable grounds to believe that you have a mental disorder – this is called the “certificate of preliminary assessment”. If they do think there are reasonable grounds, then you – now referred to as a “patient” – will be required to receive treatment for up to five days (see: “Step 4: The first period of assessment and treatment”).
You will be given a copy of the certificate of preliminary assessment and a notice explaining this. A copy of the certificate and the notice must also be sent to:
- the person who applied for you to be assessed
- your principal caregiver (if you have one)
- your GP
- your welfare guardian (if you have one).
If the health professional doing the assessment doesn’t think that you have a mental disorder, you don’t have to have any further assessment or treatment.
