Crisis

In case of emergency, call 911, or go to your closest emergency room.

Call 988 to reach your local crisis hotline.

Navajo Nation Mental Health Helplines

Getting Someone Help Involuntarily aka "Petitioning" or "Committing" Someone

    • Only applies to adults

    • Process can be started by any adult who is a witness to the person’s behavior, or by a medical professional or law enforcement

    • Paperwork must be notarized (unless completed by an RN, NP, or MD/DO or law enforcement)

    • Only for mental health treatment, not for substance abuse

    • Crisis hotline staff and crisis mobile teams (CMTs) may be able to assist in the process

    • Local crisis centers may have paperwork available and also accept notarized petitions

    • Native American members off-reservation are subject to the same Title 36 process as any other adult in Arizona.

    • On-reservation, a petition from off-reservation usually cannot be enforced by tribal police.

    • On-reservation, the process is usually through the tribal court.

    American Indian Court-ordered Treatment - brochure

    AHCCCS Involuntary Commitment Information

  • (Please refer to current statues and county laws for most up to date information. This is general information, but does not apply to everyone)

    • If petition is accepted by a judge - the person is kept in the hospital up to 72 hours to get evaluated by up to 2 psychiatrists for a mental health hearing to determine if the person needs to be on court-ordered treatment (COT)

    • A person may be released as soon as at least 1 psychiatrist determines that they do not meet criteria for for continued involuntary evaluation/treatment, or the person is able to sign in voluntarily for treatment

    • A person might be released as soon as they arrive at a crisis center if they do not meet criteria for the involuntary process anymore

    • If law enforcement is not able to locate the member after a petition is approved, usually within 7-10 days, it will expire

    • If someone is deemed to require court-ordered treatment (COT) by the psychiatrists, a mental health court hearing will be held and if the judge agrees, the person will be assigned to an agency for monitoring for treatment (usually medication injections)

    • If the person leaves the county, or does not go in for their appointments, the agency is responsible for “revoking” their status, which enables law enforcement to take the person to a hospital for treatment if they come across them

    • Common Limitations:

      • Only applies within the county the person is petitioned in unless petition is transferred

      • Only works if the person can be located before petition expires

      • Does not force the person to attend counseling or get substance abuse treatment

      • Does not force the person to be in a stable housing or rehab

      • Only applies to conditions that are mental health related, not typically anything substance-induced or due to a medical condition

      • Only applies to conditions that are usually treatable with medication (i.e. psychosis, not personality disorders)

    Court-Ordered Mental Health Evaluation and Treatment in Arizona: Rights and Procedures

    Help for you or a loved one: Options in a Crisis Situation - brochure