Mental health
Mental health
Definition
Mental health services aim to maximise the quality of life of people with mental health problems, to increase support to carers and to promote a more positive attitude to mental ill health.
Policies and legislation
- Human Rights Act 1998
- Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995
- Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003
- Mental Capacity Act 2005 – Covers England and Wales and provides a statutory framework for people who lack capacity to make decisions for themselves, or who have capacity and want to make preparations for a time when they may lack capacity in the future. It sets out who can make decisions on their behalf, in which situations, and how they should go about this. The legal framework provided by this Act is supported by a Code of Practice, which provides guidance and information about how the Act works in practice.
Examples of good practice
- West Leicestershire Mind – Mind is a national charity that promotes mental health and wellbeing, with subsidiaries around the country. West Leicestershire Mind, in particular, have done some really ground breaking work in embracing Personalisation and developing new, more personalised services for people with mental health problems.
Useful links
- Framework for Mental Health services in Scotland
- Penumbra – support adults and young people in Scotland to move towards mental wellbeing.
- The Richmond Fellowship Scotland – the leading provider in Scotland of community care services, including people with mental health difficulties, learning disabilities, alcohol related problems or autism.
- Mental Capacity Act 2005: Training Materials
- Mental Capacity Act: Deprivation of Liberty safeguards – These were introduced into the Mental Capacity Act 2005 through the Mental Health Act 2007.
- The Department of Health hasallocated funding to local authorities for 2009/10 to deliver the Safeguards in these areas.
- New regulations for 2009 in England – plus other useful information from the Governmet, including the Vetting and Barring Scheme, and changes tot he POVA scheme.
- Towards a Mentally Flourishing Scotland – The Future of Mental Health Improvement in Scotland 2008-11.
Association of Social Care Communicators 