Mental health?!


Question:

Mental health?

what is the mental health act


Answers:

The Mental Health Act
The Mental Health Act 1983 covers the assessment, treatment and rights of people with a mental health condition.
Many people receive specialist mental health care and treatment in the community. However, some people can experience severe mental health problems that require admission to hospital for assessment and treatment.

Assessment and treatment
People can only be detained if the strict criteria laid down in the Act are met. The person must be suffering from a mental disorder as defined by the Act.
An application for assessment or treatment must be supported in writing by two registered medical practitioners. The recommendation must include a statement about why an assessment and/or treatment is necessary, and why other methods of dealing with the patient are not appropriate.

Admissions to hospital
Most people who receive treatment in hospitals or psychiatric units for mental health conditions are there on a voluntary basis and have the same rights as people receiving treatment for physical illnesses.
However, a small number of patients may need to be compulsorily detained under a section of the Mental Health Act.
The Act explains who is involved in the decision about compulsory admission or detention, and the individual’s, or their nearest relative’s right of appeal.

Approved social workers
Approved social workers are specially trained in both mental health and the law relating to it. They are appointed by local authorities to interview and assess people and can make an application for admission where they consider that detention is the most appropriate way of providing care and treatment.

Nearest relative
The Act gives certain rights to the nearest relative which can be used to protect the patient’s interests. Usually, the nearest relative is the older of the two people who occur highest in the following list, regardless of gender:
•husband or wife (or same sex partner)
•daughter or son
•father or mother
•brother or sister
•grandfather or grandmother
•aunt or uncle
•nephew or niece
The nearest relative has the right to:
•make application for compulsory assessment or treatment of the patient
•be consulted and challenge decisions made by the approved social worker
•discharge the patient
•apply to a Mental Health Tribunal on behalf of the patient
•receive written information about the patient’s treatment unless the patient objects
The appointment of the nearest relative can only be changed by a County Court. The nearest relative’s power of discharge can be overruled by the doctor who is responsible for the patient’s treatment.




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