The Mental Health Act 1983

An Act to consolidate the law relating to mentally disordered persons.

    [9th May 1983]

As taken from legislation.gov.uk The Mental Health Act 1983.

The Mental Health Act (MHA) 1983 is a law that informs people with a mental health disorder what their rights are and how they can be treated; this is regarding assessment and treatment in hospital, treatment in the community, and pathways into hospital which can be civil or criminal. Most people who receive treatment in hospital are their 'by choice' so this law does not apply to them, but over half are in hospital without their agreement and this law does apply to them - they have been sectioned.

The Mental Health Act is a law which tells people with a mental health disorder what their rights are, and how they can be treated. The act tells people what their rights are regarding:

• Assessment and Treatment in Hospital

• Treatment in the Community

• Pathways into hospital, which can be civil or criminal

The Mental Health Act is devided up into different sections. These sections contain information on your rights when someone is:

• Detained in hospital against their wishes

• Detained in hospital and also part of the criminal justice system

• Offered treatment while detained

• Leaving hospital

• Being treated in the community