Mental Health Acts

Alberta’s Mental Health Act was last updated on September 15, 2016. This legislation is essentially the policy manual for how institutions (primarily hospitals) operate with the admission of the mentally ill. 

Cover page of Alberta’ Mental Health Act

Despite the act being labeled as the “mental health act,” the document focuses solely on admission processes, administration, treatment and control, and discharge of those who are mentally ill. There is no reference to specific populations, such as older adults, nor any direction on those presenting co-morbidities such as dementia and mental illness.

I find the act to be disappointing as there is also no reference to health policy for community-dwelling people living with mental illness. I suggest this act be either renamed to be more reflective of what it is – such as the mental health institutionalization act or be amended to reflect policies supporting mental health wellness in the community (and not in the hospital setting).

As health, including mental health, is provincially mandated – it would be interesting to note the differences and similarities across the country.  I have briefly reviewed Ontario’s Mental Health Act and can note that the title and premise of the legislation is the same; labelling the act as mental health but focusing on the policy of how a person would be admitted into an institution. I will note that Ontario’s Mental Health act, last amended in 2015, does have a considerable section dedicated to the policy on community treatment plans (whereas Alberta’s does not). The person would still need to go through an admission process, order, and treatment plan, but they are not confined to a hospital or facility.

p. 13 of the Ontario Mental Health Act

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