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Patient rightsPatient rights booklets: About your rightsThe Mental Health Act 1986 requires that every person must receive a written statement of their rights under the Act when they become a patient. The Act also requires that every patient for whom electroconvulsive therapy, major non-psychiatric treatment or psychosurgery is proposed must also be given a statement of rights.These statements are provided in booklets that include a list of organisations that can help with more information, assistance, advocacy or complaints. The booklets include sections on the Mental Health Review Board and community treatment when relevant. These booklets can be viewed in English and other languages and downloaded by clicking on the links below. Please note while the information in the booklets in languages other than English remains relevant, the contact details are no longer current. For up-to-date contact information, please refer to the English version of each booklet. Involuntary patients: About your rights The files below are in Portable Document Format (PDF) (
Restricted involuntary treatment orders: About your rights The files below are in Portable Document Format (PDF) (
Security patients: About your rights The files below are in Portable Document Format (PDF) (
Forensic patients: About your rights The files below are in Portable Document Format (PDF) (
Electroconvulsive therapy: About your rights The files below are in Portable Document Format (PDF) (
Major non-psychiatric treatment: About your rights The files below are in Portable Document Format (PDF) (
Non-custodial supervision orders: About your rights The files below are in Portable Document Format (PDF) (
Forensic (remand and interim disposition order) patients: About your rights The files below are in Portable Document Format (PDF) ( Continuing treatment (section 12A-12D) involuntary patients: About your rights The files below are in Portable Document Format (PDF) ( Assessment orders - Diagnosis, assessment and treatment orders: About your rights The files below are in Portable Document Format (PDF) ( Psychosurgery: About your rights
Ordering bookletsThe following English language booklets can be mailed out to you by placing an order on the Ordering mental health publications page.
Information for mental health servicesHow to use the brochures A member of the treating team should give the patient the relevant booklet, talk to them about their rights, using the booklet as a guide, and answer any questions. Some of the booklets contain tick boxes which must be marked by a member of staff. The tick boxes are used to clarify which information is relevant to the individual patient. In addition to providing the booklets, each patient must also be given an oral explanation of the information. The explanation must be given in the language, mode of communication or terms which the person is most likely to understand. This will need an individual assessment of the best way to ensure the information is effectively conveyed, and should take into account the person's mental state or special needs. Specialist services, such as interpreter services, should be used where appropriate. One or more follow-up sessions may be required to ensure the information has been understood. Each member of the treating team has an obligation to provide information, answer questions and help patients exercise their rights. The most commonly used booklets should be displayed in areas where they are readily available to patients, their families, friends and advocates. Sensitivity should be exercised in the distribution of the electroconvulsive therapy and psychosurgery booklets. These should only be given to patients and their families who have been recommended for these treatments. Communication with carers Guardians, family members and carers should also be informed about the patient's rights. They will have a need to know for a range of reasons, for example:
In providing information to family and carers, issues of confidentiality must always be considered. Ongoing communications These booklets should be seen as a starting point for the regular provision of information. The patient should be given the name of a contact person they can approach at any time for more information. Whether or not the patient does ask for more information, the contact person should periodically follow-up with the patient to assess their understanding and provide further information. This also provides the opportunity to correct any misunderstandings. |
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Last updated:
19 October, 2012-->-->-->
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