March is Medical Social Workers' month.

Kelly Madeiros, Clinical Social Worker for Acute Community and Mental Health at The Mid Atlantic Wellness Institute believes the Mental Health Act needs to be amended. As it stands, clinicians cannot intervene and treat someone, even when they see it's needed, until either the person volunteers or becomes dangerous to themselves or others.

"A lot of the time the families find that very frustrating too," she said. Her suggestion?

"We do see this frequently," she said. " I think that a provision should be made where mental welfare officers or doctors could intervene before they become a danger to themselves or other people. This is in cases where we know someone has a long-term illness and the behaviour is repetitive." As it stands even in these scenarios health professionals still have to wait for the person to become dangerous.