Mental Health Bill receives Royal Assent
Earlier today, the Mental Health Bill received Royal Assent meaning it is now law. The legislation reforms the Mental Health Act of 1983, which provides the legal framework to detain and treat people in a mental health crisis who are at risk of harm to themselves or others.
The new Act will ensure that people with severe mental health conditions receive better, more personalised treatment.
Welcoming the legislation, Prof Matthew Ashton, Mental Health Lead for the Association of Directors of Public Health, said:
“The new Mental Health Act is a big step forward and we are particularly pleased to see a commitment to addressing the unacceptable differences people from different backgrounds face in accessing care.
“As well as improving treatment and resilience for individuals, it is absolutely essential that we also work to improve, and protect, mental health at a population level. That means minimising risk factors and enhancing measures that we know protect people’s mental health, especially in the first 1001 days of life, and then throughout childhood, into adulthood and older age.
“This will need continued engagement with all sectors and a focus on improving the basic building blocks of health, like the quality of our houses, education, work and environment, and reducing poverty – all things which public health teams play a crucial role in addressing in their local areas.”