How does a parent commit their child to mental hospital?

In most cases, parents cannot involuntarily commit their children to mental hospitals. Instead, they must go through the legal process of seeking a court order. This order, known as a commitment order, allows a person to be involuntarily admitted to a mental health facility for evaluation, treatment, or both.

The specific process for obtaining a commitment order can vary from state to state, but there are some general steps that are common to most jurisdictions. These steps typically include:

* Filing a petition: The parent must file a petition with the court requesting that their child be involuntarily committed to a mental health facility. This petition must include information about the child's mental health condition and why the parent believes that they need to be hospitalized.

* Serving the child: The child must be served with a copy of the petition and a notice of the court hearing. This gives the child an opportunity to respond to the petition and contest the proposed commitment.

* Holding a hearing: The court will hold a hearing to consider the evidence and arguments presented by the parent and the child. At this hearing, the parent must prove by clear and convincing evidence that their child meets the criteria for involuntary commitment.

* Issuing an order: If the court finds that the child meets the criteria for commitment, it will issue a commitment order. This order will authorize the child to be held at a mental health facility for a specific period of time.

* Appealing an order: The child has the right to appeal a commitment order. If they do so, the higher court will review the order and decide whether or not it was properly issued.

In some cases, parents may be able to have their children involuntarily committed without going through the court process. This is typically only possible in emergency situations where the child is at imminent risk of harming themselves or others. In these cases, the parent can call the police or the local mental health department and request an involuntary commitment. However, even in these cases, the child must still be given an opportunity to challenge the commitment.