Rights and responsibilities go together. This page outlines some of the rights and responsibilities of people receiving services at Copper Country Mental Health.
The United States Constitution guarantees certain rights to all citizens. As a person receiving mental health services, you have all of these rights, unless limited by law or by a court order.
Constitutional Rights include:
- Freedom of speech
- Freedom from search and seizure
- Due process
- Legal protection
- Freedom from discrimination
- Freedom of religious expression
- Right to vote
- Right to free public education
The responsibilities of recipient's of mental health services include:
- To be an active participant in treatment, and if dissatisfied, to complain to the appropriate person.
- To do as much as possible to identify and meet their own needs.
- To respect the rights, privacy, and beliefs of others by showing courtesy and consideration.
- To be responsible for the cost of services based on ability to pay.
- To keep appointment times as scheduled, or telephone in advance to cancel.
- To respect the environment and property of others, as well as their own.
- To share with staff their experience of the Agency’s services; of what is done well, and of what could be done better.
Your Financial Responsibility for Mental Health Services
Recipient Rights and Responsibilities
Persons receiving mental health services have additional rights granted by the Michigan Mental Health Code.
Mental Health Code rights include:
- The right to be free from abuse and neglect.
- The right to be treated with dignity and respect.
- The right to have information about the person receiving services kept confidential.
- The right to have the plan for treatment, services, supports developed through a Person-Centered Process.
- The right to have access to the information in your clinical record.
- The right to give informed consent for psychotropic medication.
- The right to complain to the person in the Rights Office, in writing or verbally, that your rights are being violated.
- The right to ask staff for the Rights Officer’s address and telephone number without being questioned.
- The right not to be required to receive treatment unless the law allows it and a court requires it.
If you are receiving residential services you have the right:
- To be a part of making any house rules in your home along with your housemates.
- To get and send mail without anyone else opening it unless there is reason to believe the mail contains something that could result in breaking the law or is harmful to you or others.
- To talk on the phone in private. This right may be limited based on your Person-Centered Plan or Agency policy.
- To see visitors you want to see during regular visiting hours and to see your own doctor or spiritual counselor at reasonable times.
- To contact your lawyer at any time regarding your legal matters.
- To practice your religion or faith. You will not be forced to be involved in a religious event.
- To go to the polls to vote if you are registered. If you are not registered, you may arrange to become registered.
- To stay in a place which is clean, has good light, enough heat, fresh air, hot and cold water, a bathroom with privacy, and personal storage space.
- To wear your own clothes and keep your own personal belongings, unless restricted by law, policy or your written Person-Centered Plan.
- To be free from unreasonable searches, to watch if a search does occur, to have the reason for the search explained to you and written in your record.
- To be paid for work you agree to do if you are offered work. You will not be paid for personal housekeeping chores such as making your own bed.
- To go anywhere you want unless limited by law, policy or your Person-Centered Plan.
Your Rights When You Have a Complaint/ Recipient Rights & Responsibilities Brochure
Recipient Rights Book:
Recipient Rights Complaint Form:
For more information on rights contact the:
Office of Recipient Rights
Copper Country Mental Health Services
901 West Memorial Drive
Houghton, MI 49931
Phone #: (906) 482-9400
TDD/TTY #: (906) 482-8037