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Grounds for Involuntary Mental Health Treatment in Illinois
Article written by Illinois Attorney Kevin O’Flaherty
In this article we explain the grounds for involuntary mental health treatment in Illinois, including: “who can be involuntarily committed to a mental health facility in Illinois?”, “under what circumstances can a person be involuntarily committed in Illinois?”, and “what to do if you know someone that needs involuntary mental health care.
Who Can Be Involuntarily Committed to a Mental Health Facility in Illinois?
Only those who have been diagnosed with a “serious mental illness” and refuse care can be involuntarily admitted to a hospital or facility for mental health. For more specific information, see our article entitled Definition of Serious Mental Illness for Involuntary Treatment in Illinois. Only approximately five percent of the population of Illinois has a mental health illness that falls into this category. If you do qualify, there are only two ways to be involuntarily admitted to a mental health facility; by court order, or by emergency certification. To learn more, see our article entitled Involuntary Admission to a Mental Health Facility.
