Involuntary admission happens when, after assessment, a mental health or other professional believes that a person is experiencing mental health symptoms that put either themselves or others at risk, and the person does not agree to hospitalization in a secure psychiatric facility.
In Colorado, Revised Statute Title 27 Article 65 is the law that governs a psychiatric legal hold and says
“When any person appears to have a mental illness and, as a result of such mental illness, appears to be an imminent danger to others or to himself or herself or appears to be gravely disabled, then a… intervening professional, upon probable cause and with such assistance as maybe required, may take the person into custody, or cause the person to be taken into custody, and placed in a facility designated or approved ….for a seventy-two-hour treatment and evaluation.”
The legal hold is commonly referred to as an ‘M-1’ and can be placed by professionals identified as:
Any Physician
Any Officer of the Law
Any Licensed Mental health therapist, social worker or nurse
Under an M-1 hold, West Springs Hospital has up to 72 hours to provide evaluation & treatment.
For more information, please refer to Involuntary Commitments & Psychiatric Hospitals
