People with Learning Disability and Mental Health Law

New Mental Health Law, click here for the EasyRead booklet.

In January 2008 members of the User Forum were invited to London for a special meeting organised by the Department of Health.

We were invited to share what we felt about the Mental Health Code of Practice and some new rules on mental health law.

The members worked very hard during the day.

Thinking about:

• people who live with or look after someone with a mental illness. These people are called 'nearest relatives'.
• people who are allowed to make decision about treatment for people with a mental illness. These people are called 'approved clinicians'
• people who can help patients to have their say. These people are called 'independent mental health advocates (IMHA)'
• making sure that people decide what is best for the person and not what is best for themselves. This is called 'conflict of interest'

We were exhausted on the trip home, but a cuppa gave us just enough energy to make notes about the meeting to share with the rest of the forum members.

For Jane and Sharon the excitement was just too much in the end.

Ahhhh!