Mental health and disability

Information about voluntary and compulsory treatment and your rights if you are receiving mental health and wellbeing services in Victoria.

How you can have some control over your treatment if you make an advanced statement that sets out your treatment preferences or nominate a person to help represent your interests.

The Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022 explains the rights of people receiving mental health and wellbeing services, including mental health treatment.

If you have a mental illness, and need treatment for your health and safety or the safety of others, you may receive treatment under a compulsory treatment order.

There are rules about when electroconvulsive treatment (ECT), a medical procedure to induce a seizure within the brain to reduce some of the symptoms of mental illness, can be given.

Information about the role of the Mental Health Tribunal and what to do if you disagree with a tribunal decision.

Information about action the police, protective services officers or other authorised persons, may take if you appear to be mentally ill and are at risk of hurting yourself or someone else.

If you have a cognitive disability, including an intellectual disability, acquired brain injury or dementia, the police must get an independent third person to be with you while you are interviewed.

A disability support pension (DSP) is a payment from Centrelink for people that have a medical condition that stops them from working. Find out if you can apply for a DSP.

Learn why it is against the law for insurance companies to discriminate against you if you have a mental health condition.

Learn where to get legal help and other support for mental health and disability.