Got a minute to help? take our quick website survey >
Asking for your personal data
Explains your right to request copies of personal data and records held about you by different organisations.
Useful contacts for your personal data rights
How to find an advocate
To find advocacy services and groups in your area, you could call Mind's Legal Line on 0300 466 6463. Or contact your local Mind.
If you're in hospital:
- In England – contact the Patient Advice Liaison Service (PALS)
- In Wales – contact Llais
If you've been sectioned, you have a right to access an independent mental health advocate (IMHA). You can ask the ward staff to arrange you a meeting with them.
To find out more, see our information on advocacy.
Useful contacts – personal data and your rights
This list has contact details for organisations and services that can offer legal information, support and advice.
Some of these contacts can offer you information and support if:
- You're in the process of submitting a data request or complaint
- You're supporting someone else to submit a data request or complaint
Civil Legal Advice (CLA)
gov.uk/civil-legal-advice
Can tell you if you're eligible for legal aid, and give you free and confidential legal advice if so.
Information Commissioner's Office
ico.org.uk
Independent regulatory office in charge of upholding information rights in the interest of the public.
Law Centres Network
lawcentres.org.uk
Information about Law Centres, which defend the legal rights of people who can't afford a lawyer. Includes a searchable directory.
Law Society
lawsociety.org.uk
Professional association for solicitors in England and Wales. Includes a searchable directory of solicitors.
Independent mental health advocate (IMHA)
An IMHA is an advocate. They're specially trained to help you find out your rights under the Mental Health Act 1983. And to help you while you're detained. They can listen to what you want and speak for you.
You have a right to an IMHA if you are:
- Detained in hospital under a section of the Mental Health Act, but not if you are under sections 4, 5, 135 and 136
- Under Mental Health Act guardianship, conditional discharge and community treatment orders (CTOs)
- Discussing having certain treatments, such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
In Wales, voluntary patients can also have an IMHA.
See our page on IMHAs in England and Wales for more information.
Visit our full listing of Legal TermsSection
Being 'sectioned' means that you're kept in hospital under the Mental Health Act. There are different types of sections. Each have different rules to keep you in hospital. The length of time that you can be kept in hospital depends on which section you're detained under.
See our pages on sectioning for more information.
Visit our full listing of Legal TermsPublished: June 2026
Next review planned: June 2029
References are available on request. If you would like to reproduce any of this information, see our page on permissions and licensing.
