Words by Smiley Team
Until just this month, mental health care resembled too closely that of 19th-century asylums, giving practitioners the right to hold people against their will. Thankfully, the government has fully uprooted mental health legislation from its past, publishing recommendations and opening reforms to public consultation, in a move that was applauded by the mental health charity, Mind.
It is over two years since an independent review recommended that the government overhaul legislation which allows people with mental health problems to be held against their will or ‘sectioned’. The government has taken steps to modernise this area of healthcare, publishing its white paper and allowing the public to submit their views on reforms to the act.
Responding to the white paper, director of external relations at Mind Sophie Corlett said: “We are pleased the Government has accepted the majority of the recommendations made in the Independent Review. It is reassuring to see that many of Mind’s concerns – and those of the people with experience of the Mental Health Act who we supported to feed into the review – have been heard.”
She added: “We must now see as many people as possible with experience of mental health problems take part in the public consultation process, to make sure their voices and experiences are at the heart of reforms.”
Offering a range of options to strengthen the rights of mentally ill people, the white paper could lead to significant advances. It would give legal weight to people’s preferences about how they are treated. Mentally ill people would benefit from the right to choose which of their friends and relatives contribute to their care. The reforms would provide culturally appropriate advocacy and support options for people of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Finally, patients would also gain opportunities for tribunals to adjust their care or to seek a discharge.
With one in four people facing mental health problems each year, we all benefit from good care and support. One of the most prominent charities meeting this demand in the UK, Mind offers advice and support for those experiencing mental health issues, and campaigns against the stigma surrounding mental health conditions.
Its 2020 achievements include helping 119,000 people over the phone, supporting 120,000 people online and improving the lives of 333,000 individuals through local services.
To help the charity continue its vital work, you can donate via their website. A donation of £20 could help run online peer support for an hour, fighting loneliness and misery. £100 could pay for a day of legal advice or information services over the telephone.
