Mental Health and the Law
The main piece of legislation covering Mental Health is The Mental Health Act 1983. This aims to give people with mental health problems the support and protection they require. It may soon be superseded by new legislation which addresses the area more comprehensively. The Act is accompanied by a Code of Practice which dictates how the Act should be implemented.
The guiding principles of the Code of Practice are that people should:-
- Receive recognition of their basic human rights under European law
- Be given respect for their qualities, abilities and diverse backgrounds
- Have their needs fully taken into account
- Be given any necessary treatment, consistent with their own needs and wishes
- Be discharged as soon as their detention is no longer justified
N.B. all these principles are provisional, usually on the availability of services.
Further Information
A Summary of the Mental Health Act 1983
Local Implementation Team
National Policy on Mental Health
National Service Framework for Mental Health
A Summary of the Police & Criminal Evidence Act 1984