Alberta’s Mental Health Act (MHA) was enacted to provide safeguards, supports and supervision, for people suffering from mental disorder. In 2019, the Minister of Health initiated the process to examine the Act to ensure the legislation complies with the Charter and remains responsive to the needs of Albertans. Several amendments came into effect in September 2020 as a result of that review.

• Watch:
  • The Concurrent Disorders Learning Series on the Mental Health Amendment Act
  • Bill 17 Amendment to the Mental Health Act Online Sessions
  • Change to Mental Disorder Definition

• Review: Mental Health Amendment Act, 2020: Summary of Recent Changes 
  Note that current resources may not reflect recent amendments but can still be used

Some of the key changes include:

• Refining the admission/detention criteria to ensure the act is only used to detain those whose mental disorder can be improved by treatment.
• The definition of “mental disorder” has changed as of March 31, 2021 and further clarifying language can be found in the Mental Health Regulation.
• Expanding the roles of nurse practitioners and physicians to perform certain assessments and supervise community treatment orders.
• Strengthening procedural safeguards for patients, including a new role for the mental health patient advocate.
• Explicitly allowing the use of videoconferencing for examinations.
• Authorizing the minister to establish additional secure locations for the purpose of first assessments. (Note: none have been established yet.)