Mental Health Act

• Tasmania’s Mental Health Act 2013 establishes a substitute decision-making framework for people with mental illness who because of their illness cannot make their own assessment and treatment decisions but who need treatment to prevent harm to their own health or safety, or to the safety of others.
• The Act provides for Assessment Orders and Treatment Orders and establishes the statutory offices of the Chief Psychiatrist. The Act also provides for an independent Mental Health Tribunal and for the appointment of Official Visitors.
• Critically, the Act seeks to put the needs and rights of consumers at the centre of assessment, treatment and care decisions.

For more information, download an Overview of the Mental Health Act 2013