Getting a psychiatric evaluation for someone else depends on whether that person is willing to go voluntarily or whether you’re concerned they may be a danger to themselves or others. In most cases, you can’t force an adult into a mental health evaluation unless specific legal criteria are met. But there are clear paths forward in both situations, and knowing your options can make a stressful process more manageable.
If the Person Is Willing
When someone agrees to be evaluated, the process is straightforward. You can help them schedule an appointment with a psychiatrist, psychologist, or licensed mental health professional. Start with their primary care doctor, who can provide a referral and rule out any physical health issues that might be contributing to symptoms. Many psychiatric practices also accept self-referrals.
Be prepared for a wait. A 2024 study looking at psychiatric appointment access in four major U.S. cities found median wait times ranged from 11 days in Phoenix to 64 days in Los Angeles. In New York, the median was 28 days, and in Chicago, 23 days. If the situation feels urgent but isn’t an emergency, community mental health centers often have shorter wait times than private practices. Telehealth psychiatry has also expanded access significantly and can sometimes get someone seen within days.
Without insurance, a psychiatrist visit typically costs between $78 and $147 depending on the state, though initial evaluations often cost more than follow-up appointments. With insurance, the out-of-pocket cost depends on your plan’s copay and deductible structure. Most major insurance plans, including Medicaid and Medicare, cover psychiatric evaluations.
What Happens During the Evaluation
A comprehensive psychiatric evaluation isn’t a single test. It’s a structured clinical interview that typically lasts 60 to 90 minutes for an initial visit. The clinician will ask about current symptoms, when they started, and how they affect daily life. They’ll also go through psychiatric history, family history of mental illness, substance use, medical conditions, and social circumstances like relationships, work, and living situation.
During the conversation, the clinician conducts what’s called a mental status examination. This isn’t a quiz. It’s an organized way of observing how someone presents in the room: their appearance and grooming, eye contact, how cooperative or agitated they seem, how quickly or slowly they move and speak, whether their emotional expression matches what they’re describing, and whether their thinking follows a logical sequence. The clinician also assesses thought content, specifically checking for suicidal thoughts, thoughts of harming others, or delusions.
The person will be asked to describe their mood in their own words. If there are concerns about memory or cognitive function, the clinician may use brief screening tools that involve recalling words, drawing shapes, or answering orientation questions. In some cases, blood work may be ordered to check thyroid function, metabolic levels, or screen for substances, since several physical conditions can mimic psychiatric symptoms.
When Someone Refuses Help
This is where most people searching this topic find themselves. You’re watching someone deteriorate and they won’t agree to see anyone. For adults, you generally cannot compel someone to get a psychiatric evaluation unless they meet specific legal criteria. Every state has its own laws, but the general standard requires that the person has a mental health condition with serious symptoms, and at least one of the following is true:
- Danger to self: they are expressing suicidal thoughts or actively attempting self-harm
- Danger to others: they are threatening violence or behaving in ways that put others at immediate risk
- Inability to care for basic needs: they cannot feed themselves, maintain shelter, or attend to personal safety because of their psychiatric symptoms
If the situation doesn’t meet these thresholds, your options are more limited. You can encourage the person to see their primary care doctor for a general checkup, which feels less threatening than suggesting a psychiatric evaluation. You can also contact a therapist or psychiatrist yourself to ask for guidance on how to approach the conversation. Some clinicians will coach family members through these discussions.
How to Request an Emergency Evaluation
If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. But if the situation is serious without being a moment-by-moment emergency, most states allow family members or concerned individuals to petition for an involuntary emergency evaluation through the court system.
The process varies by state, but Maryland’s system illustrates the general structure. You obtain a Petition for Emergency Evaluation from the court clerk’s office or online. You fill it out completely, describing the person’s behavior and why you believe they are a danger. You file it during court hours, and a judge reviews it the same day. The individual you’re concerned about does not need to be present for that hearing. If the judge finds probable cause that the person is showing symptoms of a mental disorder and presents a danger to themselves or others, they can order an emergency evaluation. Filing a fraudulent petition carries criminal and civil penalties.
To find the specific process in your state, search for “emergency petition for mental health evaluation” along with your state name. The forms, filing locations, and exact legal standards differ. Some states call this a “5150 hold” (California), a “Baker Act” (Florida), or simply an emergency commitment petition.
Crisis Services You Can Call Right Now
You don’t have to navigate this alone, and you don’t have to choose between doing nothing and calling 911. Most states operate crisis intervention systems that include 24/7 phone lines, walk-in crisis centers, and mobile crisis teams that come to the person’s location.
Mobile crisis teams are staffed by mental health professionals who can assess someone in their home or community, provide immediate counseling, and determine whether a higher level of care is needed. Anyone can make a referral: family members, friends, neighbors, police, or other agencies. In many states, these services are available to everyone regardless of insurance status or income. Call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (dial 988) to connect with local crisis resources, or search for your county’s crisis intervention number.
Mobile crisis teams are particularly useful when someone is clearly struggling but you’re unsure whether the situation meets the threshold for an emergency petition. The team can evaluate the situation in person and help determine next steps, which might include voluntary treatment, a referral, or transport to an emergency department.
Getting an Evaluation for a Child or Teen
Parents and legal guardians can consent to a psychiatric evaluation for their child. This is true in every state. If you’re a parent concerned about your child’s mental health, you can schedule an evaluation directly through a child and adolescent psychiatrist, your pediatrician, or a school psychologist for an initial screening.
The rules get more complex with teenagers. In 35 states, adolescents can consent to their own mental health treatment at age 14 or 15 without parental involvement. In states without a specific age written into law, the federal age of majority (18) applies. A handful of states allow minors to consent at younger ages. This means that in some states, a 15-year-old can seek an evaluation on their own, but in others, parental consent is required until 18.
If parents are divorced or separated, the parent with legal custody (not just physical custody) typically has the authority to consent to mental health treatment. If you’re a non-custodial parent, grandparent, teacher, or other concerned adult without legal authority, your best path is to contact the child’s school counselor or pediatrician, who can help initiate the process through appropriate channels.
Practical Tips for Getting Started
If you’re helping someone who is willing but overwhelmed, the most useful thing you can do is handle the logistics. Call their insurance company to get a list of in-network psychiatrists. Make the phone calls to check availability. Offer to drive them to the appointment. For someone in a mental health crisis or deep depression, the administrative burden of finding a provider and scheduling an appointment can be the biggest barrier to getting help.
If you’re dealing with a reluctant adult who doesn’t meet criteria for involuntary evaluation, consider involving people they trust. Sometimes a close friend, faith leader, or respected family member can have a conversation that lands differently than one from a spouse or parent. Frame the evaluation as a health checkup, not a judgment. Many people who resist seeing a “psychiatrist” will agree to talk to their regular doctor about sleep problems, stress, or fatigue, and that visit can open the door to a referral.