Effectiveness of rating scales for suicide risk

[Ravenshire]

Yes and no. While a person cannot be institutionalized against their will without a court order, a 72-hour hold without one is perfectly legal.

Not without substantial evidence. I have attempted to send people threatening suicide to the State Hospital. One was actually jamming a sharpened paper clip into his wrists. Repeatedly. They go in, get interviewed, and are sent right back to the institutions where I work. I know of 2 that were successful at suicide within a few days after we sent them home. 72 hour holds are still legally defined and confined.

And none of that changes the fact that no court order is required for a 72-hour psych hold. The patients may be faking the doctors or the doctors may be missing something, but if the evaluation shows reason for a psych hold, they can and will hold them whether a judge gives an ok or not.