The courts and mental health

Explains what may happen if you are charged with committing a crime, what happens when you to go court, and how your mental health is taken into account.

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Useful contacts

Mind's services

Legal Line – provides legal information and general advice by phone or email.
Local Minds – provide face-to-face services, such as talking therapies, peer support and advocacy, across England and Wales.

Find an advocate

To find advocacy services and groups in your area, you could call Mind's Legal Line or contact your local Mind.

If you're in hospital, you can also contact:

the Patient Advice Liaison Service (PALS) in England
the Community Health Council in Wales.

In some circumstances, you may be legally entitled to get the support of an advocate. See our page on your legal rights to advocacy for more information.

Other organisations

The Bar Council Direct Access Portal

directaccessportal.co.uk
Provides an up-to-date list of direct access barristers who you can contact to get legal advice or help you with your case, without the delay or expense of applying through a solicitor.

Law Society

lawsociety.org.uk
Professional association for solicitors in England and Wales. Includes a searchable directory of solicitors.

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This information was published in July 2018. We will revise it in 2020.

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