The Mental Health Review Board is a statutory authority in Victoria established under the Mental Health Act.

On occasion, people within the community who are having problems with their mental health may be admitted to a psychiatric facility in a capacity known as an "involuntary patient". This happens when it is considered that the person is a potential danger to themselves, the community or both and they are not co-operative in helping themselves get well. People being treated as involuntary patients do not have the ability to make decisions about their treatment. Their treatment is decided upon by doctors and psychiatrists who are treating the person.

In addition to people being treated in medical facilities as involuntary patients, people can also be placed on an involuntary treatment order where they are not complying with their medication requirements. This can result in them placing themselves and the community at risk.

The primary role of the Mental Health Review Board is to hear cases of people being treated under as involuntary patients or under involuntary treatment orders and deciding whether these should continue. The Mental Health Review Board can release people from involuntary status which therefore gives them the ability to have input into their treatment.

You can find out more about the work of the Mental Health Review Board at their site. There are also a number of publications available for download.

Victoria Legal Aid have also recently produced a publication entitled "Getting Ready For A Mental Health Review Board Hearing." You can download this document from the Victoria Legal Aid site.