U.S. Involuntary Mental Health Commitment Statutes: Requirements for Persons Perceived to be a Potential Harm to Self

The civil commitment statutes of all 50 states & the District of Columbia were reviewed to determine: 1) what is required for a person who is believed to be at serious & imminent risk of self-harm to be eligible for involuntary hospitalization? 2) whether an attempt to involuntarily hospitalize was required or was merely an option when the requirements found in number 1 were met. The analysis revealed that nearly 85% of the jurisdictions require dangerousness to self to be the result of a mental illness, & only 2 jurisdictions mandate attempts at involuntary commitment if a person in deemed to be an imminent harm to self. These results have implications for practice with individuals who are suicidal. (17 refs.)