Summer Response 2018

Time to Update the
Mental Health Act
Your support means we are right now fighting for
changes to the Mental Health Act and making a real
difference with our Act for Mental Health campaign.
Why is it important?
As you may be aware, the Mental
Health Act 1983 sets out when a
person can be detained and treated
in hospital against their wishes (also
known as being ‘sectioned’).
While there’s strong support for
the Act, it is badly out of date and we
believe it should be reformed. As our
beneficiaries have continuously told
us that it’s failing to keep them safe
when they, or a loved one are very
unwell. With you, we’re campaigning
to change this.
Act for Mental Health
Many of you have already helped
to promote our call for people
– both patients and carers – to
share their experiences of the Act.
Thank you!
We have also been calling
on you to ask your MPs to show
their commitment to reforming
the Act by signing a parliamentary
petition. The more MPs who do
this, the more pressure there will
be for change.
You can still take action and support
this campaign by visiting:
www.rethink.org/actformentalhealth
and emailing your local MP.
* If you do email your MP using the link
above please use your personal email
address when filling in the online form.
The Independent Review
An independent review is now
taking place. Recently the first report
was published from it. It confirmed
serious problems with the Act and
how it’s currently being used.
Many of the 2,000 people who
have been detained under the
Mental Health Act told the Review
that the law fails to protect their
rights and dignity, and excludes
them from making decisions about
their own care.
Next steps
We are working closely with the
Review Team to input into the review,
via the Advisory and Working Groups.
Our representatives are Mark
Winstanley (Chief Executive),
alongside Ian Callaghan (Recovery &
Secure Care Programme Manager)
and Danielle Hamm (pictured, our
Associate Director of Campaigns).
Over the coming months
we’ll be keeping you informed of
developments and there will be more
opportunities for staff, volunteers and
people severely affected by mental
illness to get involved in the campaign.
If you have any questions about
this campaign, please don’t
hesitate to contact the Campaigns
and Public Affairs team at
campaigns@rethink.org
65 of the
533 MP’s across
England have
been emailed
thanks to you.
That’s 68% of all
constituencies!
Well done you!
So far 38 MP’s
have signed the
parliamentary
petition.
4 Summer 2018