Recommendations could lead to a fundamental change in mental health legislation

The voluntary sector is being asked to contribute its views to a major shake up of Scottish mental health legislation.

The Scottish Mental Health Law Review (SMHLR) is running a consultation until 27 May, and the recommendations being consulted on could lead to a fundamental change in mental health legislation, bringing it more in line with the ambitions set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Voluntary sector views will help refine or change proposals and allow the SMHLR to put together a final set of recommendations for the Scottish Government later this year.

John Scott QC, review chair, said: “We are now in phase three of the review. This means we want to know what you think about some of our ideas and proposals for changes to mental health and incapacity law.

“We have been developing our ideas and proposals in partnership with people with lived experience, unpaid carers, mental health practitioners and other people interested in this area.

“We think these proposals could lead to a fundamental change to our mental health legislation.

“Your views will help us to refine, change or add to our ideas. This will then allow us to pull together a final set of recommendations for the Scottish Government later this year."

You can link to the consultation through the website www.smhlr.scot. For more information contact secretariat@smhlr.scot.

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