For someone in Georgia who is in the midst of a particularly dangerous mental health crisis, a 1013 hold may be the best option for keeping them safe and helping them get the care they need.
Contact North Atlanta Behavioral Health today to learn more about mental health treatment in Georgia.
What Is a 1013 in Georgia?
In Georgia, the term “a 1013” refers to the process of having someone involuntarily admitted to a mental health facility for an emergency evaluation and potentially for treatment.
The term gets its name from the form that must be completed before a person can be involuntarily admitted. The full name of this form is Form 1013 – Certificate Authorizing Transport to Emergency Receiving Facility & Report of Transportation.
Who Can Be Placed on a 1013 Hold?
To be involuntarily committed via Form 1013 in Georgia, a person must meet three criteria:
- They have a mental illness.
- They are in imminent danger of harming themselves or someone else.
- The imminent danger of harm is related to their mental illness.
Examples of circumstances that may justify a 1013 hold include:
- The person has either already harmed themselves, or they have been threatening to do so, as a result of their mental illness.
- The person’s mental illness has caused them to act in a violent manner toward another person or make violent threats.
- The person’s symptoms have degraded their ability to care for themselves to the degree that their life is in danger if they don’t get professional help.
Do 1013 Holds Apply to People With Addictions?
Substance use disorders (addictions) are frequently categorized as mental health conditions. And the compulsive use of alcohol or other drugs can absolutely cause people to get to the point at which they’re a danger to themselves or others. So does this mean that someone with an addiction can be put on a 1013 hold in Georgia?
Not exactly.
Many people with mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and PTSD also have addictions. Having an addiction doesn’t disqualify someone from being placed on a 1013 hold, but the danger they pose must be directly related to the mental health disorder, not their substance abuse problem.
If a person is at imminent risk of harming themselves or someone else as a result of an addiction, or if their substance use frequently causes them to become incapacitated, they can still be involuntarily committed. However, that process starts with Form 2013 – Certificate Authorizing Transport to Emergency Receiving Facility & Report of Transportation (Addictive Diseases).
How Does the 1013 Process Work?
There are three general stages to the 1013 hold process: initial assessment to determine the individual’s suitability for involuntary commitment, transportation to an emergency receiving facility, and admission/evaluation at that facility.
Assessment
For someone to be placed on a 1013 hold in Georgia, the authorization form must be signed by one of the following eight professionals:
- Licensed physician
- Licensed psychologist
- Licensed clinical social worker (LCSW)
- Licensed professional counselor (LPC)
- Advanced practice registered nurse (APRN)
- Clinical nurse specialist (CNS) in psychiatric/mental health
- Physician’s assistant (PA) under protocol
- Licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT)
The professional who completes Form 1013 must attest that they have examined the individual within the previous 48 hours, that they believe the person has a mental illness, and that they should be involuntarily committed due to one or both of the following reasons:
- They present a substantial risk of imminent harm to self or others as manifested by recent overt acts or recent expressed threats of violence.
- They appear to be so unable to care for their own physical health and safety as to create an imminently life endangering crisis.
Finally, the professional must indicate that:
- They have spoken to a staff member at an approved emergency receiving facility.
- The staff member has confirmed that there is a bed available for the individual at the facility.
Transportation
Once an authorized professional has provided the information above and signed Form 1013, the police who have jurisdiction over the individual’s current location have 72 hours to take them into custody and transport them to the designated emergency receiving facility.
If it is safe to do so, Form 1013 also allows family members, friends, or other private parties (such as an ambulance company or transportation provider) to bring the individual to the receiving facility.
Admission and Evaluation
Once the individual is admitted to the emergency receiving facility, they may be held there for up to 48 hours for a psychiatric evaluation.
This 48-hour limit includes weekends and holidays:
- If the clinician who evaluates the patient determines that they do not require additional care, they may discharge them at any point during this 48-hour period.
- If the clinician determines that the patient needs additional help, they must indicate this by completing a separate form (Form 1014: Certificate Authorizing Transfer From Emergency Receiving Facility To Evaluating Facility) within the 48-hour window.
Following the completion of Form 1014, the receiving facility has 24 hours to transport the patient to the center where they will be receiving additional care.
Once the patient has been transported to the follow-on center, Form 1014 authorizes them to be held involuntarily for five additional days to receive treatment.
Can You Request a 1013 Hold for a Loved One?
Only the eight professionals listed earlier in today’s post can authorize a 1013 hold. But that doesn’t mean friends or family members have no role to play in the process.
If someone in your life is in a mental health crisis, and you think they may need to be involuntarily admitted for evaluation and treatment, here are two options:
- If your loved one is under the care of a psychiatrist, therapist, or other mental health professional, contact them immediately. Once they’ve assessed the situation, they can get the 1013 process going.
- If your loved one doesn’t have a current therapist or counselor, of if you can’t get ahold of them, call the Georgia Crisis and Access Line (GCAL) at 1-800-715-4225. You can also reach the GCAL by calling or texting 988 or by using the only chat feature at www.988lifeline.org.
Learn More About Mental Health Treatment in Atlanta
If you are seeking non-emergency outpatient treatment or step-down support following a 1013 or 2013 hold, North Atlanta Behavioral Health may have the services you’re seeking.
Our rehab in Atlanta, GA, offers a partial hospitalization program (PHP) and an intensive outpatient program (IOP) for adults with mental illnesses and substance use disorders.
To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.
