How do you get someone put in a mental hospital Mississippi?

Involuntary Commitment

Mississippi Emergency Mental Health Services Law authorizes the temporary, involuntary admission of a person to a state mental health hospital for up to 72 hours by a peace officer, if they are "mentally ill and, as a result of that mental illness, are likely to cause serious harm to himself, herself or others."1 An involuntary commitment can also be initiated, pursuant to this statute, by a licensed physician certifying the person's condition as set out in the statute, or by family or friends filing an affidavit certifying the person's condition as described in the statute.

The affidavit filed by family or friends must also specify that they are unable or unwilling to assume responsibility for the person's care.2 Upon admission, the hospital physician must examine the person as soon as possible and make an independent finding of whether the person meets the criteria for commitment under the statute. If the hospital physician determines that the person meets the criteria for involuntary admission, the physician may extend the person's commitment for a period not to exceed an additional 120 hours, or may admit the person involuntarily as a voluntary patient if the person desires this.

There is no specific provision for involuntary outpatient commitment. However, a Mississippi court has stated that a circuit court may order an individual to comply with a voluntary treatment plan, which "may include any appropriate treatment, including a continuum of medication."