Forum Brief: Mental health

A mental health bill that would have forced mental patients to undergo treatment and allowed the detention of people with "dangerous" personality disorders will be reintroduced within weeks, it has been reported.

The news comes after compromise talks between mental health campaigners and ministers.

Forum Response: Depression Alliance

Jim Thomson, chief executive of the Depression Alliance said: "If the government has listened to the concerns of those who objected to the last draft Mental Health Bill then its re-introduction will make interesting reading.

 

"The last draft Bill contravened European Human Rights Law, was highly stigmatising and was likely to lead to a "safety first" culture in which people were detained due to a perception of risk rather than any actual threat to themselves and/or others.

 

"It was clear that the Bill did not concern itself with the health of the one in five of us who will be affected by depression at some point during our lives. We very much hope that the government gets it right this time."

 

Forum Response: SANE

 

Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of mental health charity SANE, said: "We have campaigned for reform of the Mental Health Act to achieve a better balance of rights between individuals, families and carers, and the community.

 

"We wish to see positive rights to care and treatment, enforceable rights for individuals to have their wishes taken into account through advance directives, and information and involvement for families and carers.