People can be detained under the Mental Health Act when it is considered that they need urgent treatment for a mental health disorder and are at risk of harm to themselves or others. This can be done in both non-emergency and emergency situations.
In emergency situations, the police can take an individual from a public place to a place of safety for assessment by an approved mental health professional and a doctor, and can keep them there for up to 24 hours, or 36 hours if it isn’t possible for an assessment to be carried out in that time.
In most non-emergency cases, family members, a GP, carer or other professionals may voice concerns about an individual’s mental health and may ask for a formal assessment through the Mental Health Act process.