“The mission of the Mental Health Division is to promote recovery and safety.”

Your Rights

As a person receiving public mental health services, what are my rights?

YOU CAN EXERCISE THE FOLLOWING RIGHTS:

To be treated with respect and dignity
To have your privacy protected
To help develop a plan of care and services that meet your needs
To participate in decisions regarding your mental health care
To receive services in a barrier-free location (accessible)
To request information about names, location, phones, and languages for local agencies
The right to receive the amount and duration of services you need
To request information about the structure and operation of the RSN
The right to services within 2 hours for emergent care and 24 hours for urgent care
To be free from use of seclusion or restraints
To receive age and culturally appropriate services
To be provided a certified interpreter and translated material at no cost to you
To understand available treatment options and alternatives
To refuse any proposed treatment
To receive care that does not discriminate against you (e.g. age, race, type of illness)
To be free of any sexual exploitation or harassment
To receive an explanation of all medications prescribed and possible side effects
To make an advance directive, which states your choices and preferences for mental health care
To receive quality services that are medically necessary
To have a second opinion from a mental health professional
To file a grievance with your agency or RSN
To choose a mental health care provider or choose one for your child who is under thirteen years of age
To change mental health care providers during the first 30 days, and sometimes more often
To file a request for an administrative (fair) hearing
To request and receive copy of your medical records and ask for changes
Be free from retaliation

You may want to ask your mental health care provider for more information about your rights. Your rights will be provided to you in writing when you request services. An independent Ombuds may be available in your RSN to help you if you have complaints. When you receive mental health care in a hospital, you have additional rights.

You have the right to request policies and procedures of the RSN and CMHAs as they pertain to your rights.

Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view PDF files and you can download it for free. If you do not have an application that can display Microsoft Word documents (.doc), you can download a free Word Viewer.

For more ways to get in touch with the Department of Mental Health Services, go to the DSHS Contact Information Web page. Mental Health Related Questions Contact: