The Trumbull County Probate Court is charged with assuring that citizens of Trumbull County who suffer from mental illness receive medical attention in the event that, due to their mental illness, they pose an imminent risk to either their physical safety or the physical safety of others. 

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Most mental illness proceedings are brought before the Court by a psychiatrist practicing at an inpatient psychiatric unit who has a patient who is being involuntarily held in the hospital due to their mental illness. However, some mental illness proceedings are brought before the Court by family members or friends of the mentally ill person who come to the Court to file an Affidavit of Mental Illness when the mentally ill person's circumstances pose an imminent risk of physical harm to self or others. 

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A family member or friend filing an Affidavit of Mental Illness should come to the Court to discuss the circumstances of the mentally ill person. If it is decided that an affidavit of mental illness should be filed, the family member or friend will need to go to Coleman Professional Services, the agency designated by the Trumbull County Mental Health and Recovery Board, to complete an investigative report prior to any action being taken on the affidavit. This process often takes several hours so that the trained staff at Coleman Professional Services can provide a detailed report to the Court as to the current circumstances the mentally ill person is in and a recommendation as to how the Court should proceed. 

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Mental illness proceedings often result in both inpatient and outpatient commitments. The treatment of individuals on outpatient commitments is managed by agencies designated by the Trumbull County Mental Health and Recovery Board. 

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In the event of an emergency concerning a mentally ill person, 911 should be called. Police officers have the ability to take a mentally ill person to the hospital through a procedure commonly known as a “pink slip”, whether or not they consent to treatment, if the person represents an imminent risk of physical harm to self or others 

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An affidavit of mental illness is not an appropriate proceeding if the goal of friends or family is forced drug or alcohol treatment. Such a proceeding for forced drug and alcohol treatment is available. The requirements as well as the forms are located here.