New rights guide for Scotland’s mental health patients

The Mental Welfare Commission launched a new guide yesterday aimed at ensuring mental health patients have their human rights respected at key points in their treatment.

‘Rights in Mind’ is a practical document that lists people rights when they are first admitted to hospital, when they are on the ward, when they are discharged and when they are being treated in the community.

The guide was developed after feedback showed that, for example, voluntary patients were sometimes unaware of whether or not they could leave a ward, or whether or not they could refuse treatment.

Speaking at yesterday’s launch in Edinburgh, Maureen Watt, Minister for Mental Health said: “Improving mental health is an absolute priority for this government and I’m very pleased to launch this new guide. I hope it will help patients and their relatives to understand their treatment, which we know is so important at a time that can be confusing and frightening.

Read the full article here: http://www.scottishlegal.com/2017/05/24/new-rights-guide-for-scotlands-mental-health-patients/

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