Involuntary commitment

Involuntary commitment (also called civil commitment, involuntary hospitalization, being sectioned, or being committed) is one way laws try to help someone who might hurt themselves or others because of mental illness. It usually means putting someone in a mental hospital and making them take medicine, even if they don't want to. In many places, a court might make someone go to a psychiatrist (a type of doctor for mental illness) and take medicine without putting them in the hospital (this is called "outpatient commitment"). Some people use "involuntary commitment" to mean making someone do these things without using the law. So be careful when using this: explain whether you mean the actual laws, or the bigger idea of making someone get psychiatric help they don't want.

What counts as "might hurt themselves or others" depends on the laws in your city, state, or country. Usually, someone who is having a mental health emergency is put in a mental hospital for about 72 hours, while doctors try to make them better and decide what to do next with them. Sometimes, especially if this doesn't help, the doctors decide to keep them in the hospital for longer. A court might also help make this decision. If a court didn't make the decision, there is usually a way to appeal the decision to a court. However, it might go to a special type of court.

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