Mental Health Appeals Program consultations closed

Individuals in the mental health system are a particularly vulnerable group. As part of Legal Aid Ontario’s Mental Health Strategy, a program will be introduced to expand the availability of certificates and hours for appeals from decisions of the Consent and Capacity Board and the Ontario Review Board.

LAO is developing this program after it held consultations with the Mental Health Legal Committee, Criminal Lawyers Association and Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office.

Phase 1 consultations happened over May 2014 to January 2015 with key stakeholders and institutions including the regional and local mental health bar.

These consultations resulted in the design of a new provincial case coordination form, appeal process maps, appeal funding guidelines, and a block fee appeal funding model.

Phase 2 consultations ran from early 2015 to summer 2017. In-person and teleconference sessions were held in Oshawa, Ottawa, St. Thomas, Toronto, Kingston, Hamilton, Thunder Bay and North Bay. As of June 2015, LAO has been meeting with psychiatric facilities.

Key documents

Description of the Mental Health Appeals Program

Mental Health Appeals assessment guidelines
Draft for consultation

Post-Hearing Report Form
Draft for consultation

Process map of LAO’s Mental Health Appeals Program

Process map of Ontario Review Board Appeals