This is the most common way people are hospitalized against their will. A doctor who believes a person has a mental disorder, as defined in the Mental Health Act, can complete a certificate to admit the person to hospital, even if that person doesn’t want to be hospitalized or treated. However, the doctor must believe the person needs to be hospitalized for psychiatric treatment, to prevent substantial mental or physical decline, or to protect that person or others. The suspected mental disorder must seriously impair the person’s ability to react appropriately to their environment or to get along with others, though the person does not have to be dangerous to others to be admitted involuntarily.

Anyone, including family members and neighbours, who reasonably believes a person has a mental disorder that requires hospitalization for the safety of that person or others can apply to the court for an order to have that person hospitalized. Also, the court can issue a warrant that allows the police to take the person to hospital for assessment.