Mental health

Progress of new Mental Health Bill

It had been recognised for some time that the current Mental Health legislation in the Mental Health Act 1983 as amended by the Mental Health Act 2007 is out of date. Recommendations for reform were made following an independent review of the Mental Health framework in 2018 chaired by Sir Simon Wessley, former president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. The Covid-19 pandemic intervened and delayed the possibility of introducing new legislation, but a new Mental Health Bill was presented in Parliament in November 2024. It has now passed its second reading in the House of Lords, and the Bill has now been published, together with its proposed Code of Practice. It introduces several important changes to the current Mental Health legislation. From a practical perspective, healthcare professionals and legal practitioners will need to update their knowledge of Mental Health law once the Bill becomes law.