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• Who is eligible for an IMHA?

Who is eligible for an IMHA?

IMHA support is a statutory right for patients detained under the Mental Health Act. In certain other cases, individuals are also able to access IMHA services.

Patients who are entitled to an IMHA under the Mental Health Act (even if on leave of absence from the hospital) are:

• Conditionally discharged restricted patients
• Patients subject to guardianship or
• Supervised community treatment patients

Other patients (informal patients) are eligible if they are:

• Being considered for a treatment to which Section 57 applies
• Under 18 and being considered for ECT or any other treatment to which Section 58A applies

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Which patients are not eligible for IMHA?

• Patients being detained on Section 4 until the second medical recommendation is received
• Patients under the holding powers of Section 5
• Patients in a place of safety under section 135 or 136.