1. Understand when you can get a Form 2

If your loved one has a mental disorder, there are 2 situations when you can get a Form 2 – Order for Examination. On the Form 2, these situations are referred to as “Box A” and “Box B”.

Your loved one's situation has to fit either Box A or Box B.

Box A to prevent serious harm

Box A is used to avoid serious harm to your loved one or to someone else, including you.

To use Box A, at least one of these things must have already happened:

• your loved one tried or threatened to hurt themselves or someone else
• your loved one was violent to someone or did something that made you think they'll hurt someone
• there are signs that your loved one can't care for themselves

You also have to show that this will happen: Your loved one or someone else is likely to be seriously hurt because of your loved one's mental disorder.

Box B for substitute decision-maker

Box B is used if your loved one can't understand their own health situation and they need someone else to make their health-care decisions for them.

To use Box B, all of these things must have already happened:

• your loved one's been treated in the past for a mental disorder that they still have
• the previous treatment helped your loved one
• your loved one cannot understand what it means to get treatment in a psychiatric facility, and someone else, called a substitute decision-maker, is responsible for making decisions about their health care
• your loved one's substitute decision-maker has given permission for your loved one to get treatment at a psychiatric facility

You also have to show that at least one of these things will happen:

• Your loved one or someone else is likely to be seriously hurt because of your loved one's mental disorder.
• Your loved one's mental or physical condition is likely going to get much worse.