On-Demand CE Training
ODL 392: Ethical Considerations in Emergency Mental Healthcare: Navigating Involuntary Commitment and Crisis Response
* Some states do not require/accept ethics hours for counselors, for those cases contact hours will be awarded.
Please make sure to check with your own state board to ensure the transferability of CE credit for an asynchronous course. Some state boards may place restrictions regarding the modality of training required for ethics credits to be awarded. If this training indicates ethics credits are available, please verify that your state allows them to be earned through an on-demand course format.
Please note: This on-demand webinar is a replay of a live CE event. The format reflects the original presentation and may include live Q&A, transitions, and intermittent audio/visual fluctuations typical of a live recording.
5 CREDIT HOURS APPROVED FOR:
Social Workers
ASWB ACE – 5 Ethics Continuing Education credits
New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work – 5 Contact hours
Psychologists
APA – 5 CE credits
Counselors 5 Contact hours or 5 Ethics hours
NBCC ACEP – 5 Contact hours
New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners – 5 Contact hours
Addiction Professionals
NAADAC – 5 Contact hours
Nurses
California Board of Registered Nursing – 5 Contact hours
Case Managers
CCMC – 5 Ethics CE Contact hours
Created On: 3/2/26
Target Audience:
This course is targeted for social workers, psychologists, counselors, nurses and case managers.
Counselor Skill Groups:
2. Clinical Assessment
3. Treatment Plan
4. Counseling Services
8. Legal, Ethical and Professional Development
Overview:
Many helping professionals face uncertainty about how to respond in a mental health crisis. Ideally, clients experiencing acute psychiatric distress will consent to evaluation and treatment. Unfortunately, barriers such as fear, prior negative experiences, systemic challenges, or psychiatric symptoms (paranoia, delusions, hallucinations, etc.) may prevent individuals from voluntarily seeking help. In such cases, states across the US have legal processes that allow for involuntary evaluation or hospitalization when a clinician determines there is a substantial risk of imminent harm to the self or others, or an inability to provide for one’s own safety. While these processes are designed to protect clients and communities, they are also filled with ethical dilemmas. This course will provide an overview of how to identify and respond to a mental health emergency, explore common clinical and legal considerations in emergency settings, and highlight the ethical standards that guide decision-making when involuntary measures are necessary.
Course Objectives:
By the end of the session, the participant will be able to:
- Identify signs of a mental health emergency.
- Demonstrate knowledge of suicide/homicide risk assessment, mental status exams, and substance use evaluations.
- Differentiate between commonly used legal mechanisms for involuntary psychiatric evaluation and treatment across states.
- Communicate clear expectations for clients and families who may be placed under involuntary hold or evaluation.
- Apply professional ethical standards when navigating dilemmas in emergency mental health settings.
Presenter:
Ralph Menard, MS, LPC, CPCS, PhD(c)
Ralph Menard has 7 years of experience working in crisis assessment and stabilization. He currently serves as the Director of Social Services for Coastal Harbor Health Systems in Savannah, GA, and is an adjunct professor at South University. Ralph is a graduate of Auburn University with a BA in Psychology, an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and is in the dissertation phase of a doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision at Mercer University. Mr. Menard has conducted several seminars on topics related to trauma, mental illness, and crisis intervention at conferences and seminars in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania. Mr. Menard has published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Counseling Research and Practice.