Mental health and well-being is a collective responsibility of family members, friends, social groups, and even state or institutional authorities. Being a part of society comes with responsibilities and working with professionals and experts to engage in healthy lifestyle benefits for mentally impaired individuals. This can be catered on two levels where family members grant maximum support medically, socially, and financially. The other kind of support comes from the state itself and how it customizes the health care system to accommodate mental health patients by granting them a green warrant. Beneficial, effective programs and initiatives are staged to protect the mental health patients who work towards their stability and give them a safer environment to individually practice behavior with full protection to themselves and other community individuals.
What is a Green Warrant?
A green warrant represents a mental health warrant. A person in possession of this warrant clearly states that the individual needs to be evaluated by a mental health professional and needs immediate attention as soon as possible and assistance without delay. Such contracts are issued when there is a high probability and belief that a person could be in danger or threaten society. The concerning authorities issue green warrants and therefore place a caution mark on those who need to be evaluated soon.
Arrangements to obtain a court order for mental health services can be made through the specific mental health divisions in towns and cities. An individual above 18 can apply for a mental health order for someone they believe is a threat to society. This situation arises when the patient mostly refuses treatment and fails to observe society’s norms, therefore allowing an individual to request a court order. The process includes filing for an application with specific and current information that confirms a patient’s mental condition. It should mention that the patient is suffering from a mental health disorder and constitute an immediate threat.
A person can enter the mental health legal process through two options:
1. A referral placed by the Application for Emergency Apprehension and Detention in the United States
2. Emergency Apprehension by a peace officer.
Any adult can file for an application on behalf of loved ones if there is a belief of significant danger. The warrant can be issued if the judge reviews it and determines that the proposed patient is a danger or not. If the situation persists, then the judges will file for immediate assistance and detention strategies to accommodate the individual to an appropriate facility for basic psychiatric evaluation. In the second scenario, a peace officer without a warrant can take the mentally ill patient into supervision if they have a valid reason to believe that the patient poses a significant threat to himself or society. This happens when the officer evaluates the situation as critical, and there is no time for the warrant’s issuance. The person is then transferred to a suitable mental health facility for preliminary evaluation and placed in a secure environment.
The application for the process must state the following:
1. There should be enough evidence to believe that the individual has a valid mental health illness or disorder.
2. The person with the said disorder poses a substantial risk to himself and even others if not properly confined.
3. A clear and concise description of risk or harm an individual may possess
4. The applicant’s belief should be derived from the patient’s specific recent behavior, attempts, threats, or an evaluation of mental health illness
5. A detailed description of the individual’s acts, threats, and suicidal behaviors
6. A relationship of the applicant with the patient.
Under the law, people cannot be forced to receive a warrant if there is no sign of mental health disorder. Proper documentation and authorization from the doctor are usually required to avoid unfair issuance of the warrant. The warrant is issued with a set of responsibilities and comes with the eviction of fundamental rights. This is why proper scrutiny is required before the process. Documentation can also be gathered through conversations with the patient to determine the level of illness. A history, background check, and evidence are usually required before the authorization of a warrant.
It is a criminal offense to knowingly present false information in the application of the mental health warrant. It restricts some of an individual’s major rights, which is why first-hand information should be included. The government works to regulate systems and provide assistance to mental health patients. They work to protect consumers’ rights, provide funds for services, and support new research and innovation. Generating a warrant is a part of government support and assistance. They adopt mental health policies to combine them into public health and general social policy to create a safer environment, which is why they demand a regular and practical check on each patient’s history and relation to the ailment.
However, this type of warrant comes with a lack of understanding and knowledge, especially for law enforcement agencies. Many law enforcers lack the knowledge and proper training to deal with people who have a mental disorder, resulting in a serious confrontation between the two parties leading to dangerous circumstances. Therefore it is essential to bridge the differences between the two groups, which can only be done by generating awareness campaigns through mental health public offices and the governments at a local level. The harmful confrontation often results in a negative stigma and aggression for the law enforcement agencies leading to a lack of cooperation.
The warrant issued by the government does not mean that a citizen is completely ignored or revoked in terms of basic rights. A doctor is assigned in the beginning, and the treating medical staff also determines the patient’s release. This, however, does not entail complete freedom of basic rights. The patient needs to attend the follow-up checkups, schedule appointments, and consult therapists and counselors to avoid being issued a warrant in the future.
After leaving Wells Fargo Bank in 2014, Daniel began a career as a finance consultant, advising companies and individuals on economic policy, labor relations, and financial management.
At Promtfinance.com, Daniel writes about personal finance topics, value estimation, budgeting strategies, retirement planning, and portfolio diversification.
Read more on Daniel Smith's biography page.
Contact Daniel: daniel@promtfinance.com