Principles in the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act and the Chief Psychiatrist's guidelines

Mental health and wellbeing services have a responsibility to provide treatment and care that embodies principles set out in the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022 and Chief Psychiatrist’s guidelines.

This includes:

Respecting the rights, dignity and autonomy of people living with mental illness or psychological distress
Ensuring compulsory treatment and restrictive practices are only used as a last resort.
Involving people in all decisions about their assessment, treatment and recovery, and ensuring they are supported to participate in those decisions.
Recognising the role of families, carers and supporters (including children) in decisions about assessment, treatment and recovery.
Responding to people’s specific diversity- related needs and experiences tied to age, disability, neurodiversity, culture, language, communication, religion, race, gender and sexual orientation.
Ensuring that services are provided in a manner that is responsive to histories of family violence and trauma.
Providing culturally safe and responsive treatment and care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Promoting the best interests of children and young people, including providing treatment and support in age and developmentally appropriate ways.

Obligations under the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022

Mental health and wellbeing services have core obligations to meet in order to deliver safe and high-quality treatment and care.

Mental health and wellbeing services who fail to comply with the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022 need to report this to the Chief Psychiatrist.

The Chief Psychiatrist's guidelines contain specialist information and advice on clinical practice in mental health and wellbeing services.

Reviewed 15 September 2023

Office of the Chief Psychiatrist