Watch your language!
"Arrested" under the Mental Health Act is inaccurate
All too often, we hear police and coroners state that an individual was “arrested under the Ontario Mental Health Act.” This is inaccurate as there are no provisions in that legislation for arresting individuals and it gives the false impression that “criminal activity” has taken place. The law does say that police “may take the person in custody to an appropriate place of examination and where practicable the place shall be a psychiatric facility or other health facility.” Language is powerful and can perpetuate stigma. Watching our language is the first step in reducing and eliminating discrimination.
