Independent, confidential, and without judgement

Rights Advisors have specialized training on the Mental Health Act. They meet with involuntary patients in private to explain their legal rights under the Mental Health Act. Rights Advisors can also support patients in how to exercise those rights. They do not share any information with a person’s treatment team or support network without their consent. 

Rights Advisors may have lived and professional experience with involuntary treatment, and come from various backgrounds, including peer support. They focus on the person experiencing involuntary treatment and their wishes. They help without judgement. 

Rights Advisors are not lawyers. The Independent Rights Advice Service does not give legal advice. 

Rights Advisors are not healthcare providers. They are independent from the care, treatment, or supervision of any involuntary patients in facilities or on extended leave. Rights Advisors have no connection to law enforcement agencies, like police. 

 

Training requirements

Rights Advisors must complete training, which includes the following topics:

  • Guidance from people with lived experience under BC’s Mental Health Act;
  • Law, services, and systems under BC’s Mental Health Act;
  • Anti-Indigenous racism;
  • Indigenous cultural safety;
  • Métis people, culture and history and resources for Métis self-identified people;
  • Fundamentals of anti-oppression;
  • Trauma-informed practice;
  • Accessible communication (including supporting neurodiversity and cognitive diversity in communication);
  • Adapting services for children and youth; and
  • Harm reduction.