Form 2 (Ontario - Order For Examination)

A Form 2, or Order For Examination, under the Ontario Mental Health Act is a form that any member of the public (or family member) can fill out when they are concerned about the mental well-being of an individual. A Justice of the Peace is required to initiate the process, and the member of the public must contact them to issue the Form 2.

Download Form 2

Patients may arrive in the emergency department under a Form 2. It is important to note that a Form 2 does not allow hospital detention. The purpose of the Form 2 is to allow the police to apprehend and bring the person to a physician for examination. The purpose of the examination is for the physician to decide whether or not to sign a Form 1 for further assessment.

  • Once the order for the examination of the person is signed, it authorizes a police officer to apprehend the person named on the form.
  • Both a Form 1 and Form 2 authorizes the potential apprehension of the person in the community within a period of seven days, including the day that the form is signed
  • A Form 1 and a Form 2 are different in several ways, including the following:
    • A Form 1 authorizes the holding of the person for up to 72 hours at a psychiatric facility. The Form 2 does not.
    • A Form 2 authorizes the detention of a person just long enough for a doctor to make an initial examination and decide if a Form 1 is appropriate

A Form 2 is valid 7 days from and including the day it is made or at conclusion of physician’s examination [Justice of the Peace completes this].