Today, the government has published its revised mental health bill. The reform of the existing mental health act has been long overdue, having started under the previous government. The new government had committed to introducing the reformed bill to parliament in their manifesto.
In a press release issued today, the Government stated that:
“New laws will give patients sectioned under the Mental Health Act more dignity and say over their care in long-awaited updates to be introduced in Parliament today (Wednesday, 6 November).
Currently, outdated laws do not meet modern standards and fail to give patients an adequate voice. For example, individuals experiencing severe mental illness can be placed in police cells, and the law automatically gives a patient’s nearest relative – rather than the person of their choosing such as a partner – a say in decisions about their care.
The new Mental Health Bill addresses the significant changes in attitudes towards mental illness since the original Act was passed, recognising outdated laws around the treatment of people in a mental health crisis are no longer tolerable.”
The changes in the reformed bill include:
- Introducing statutory care and treatment plans, tailored to a person’s individual needs;
- Stopping people in mental health crisis being held in prison cells;
- Ending the inappropriate detention of autistic people and people with learning disabilities;
- Ensuring that patients have a voice in their care, and recognising the role of friends and family in keeping people safe.
