Developing a Mental Health Code for Minors
86 Pages Posted: 14 Aug 2016
Date Written: 1996
Abstract
This article examines the piecemeal, haphazard fashion that the mental health codes of most states address the needs and rights of children with mental health impairments. The article addresses the few constitutional rights that children have when seeking mental health care. It then provides a comparative survey of legislation to determine whether states provide minors more safeguards than the few required by the Constitution. The article suggests several strategies for reforming state mental health law to protect the distinct treatment needs and legal concerns of children.
Keywords: minors, physical harm, psychological harm, social harm, juvenile hospital programs, mental health code for minors, youth mental health facilities, third-party admission, juveniles, psychiatric facilities, juvenile justice system, mental health services, deinstitutionalization, social science
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