Mind Legal Line
0300 466 6463 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
legal@mind.org.uk
The Mind Legal Line can provide you with legal information and general advice.
Care Quality Commission (CQC)
03000 616161 (press ‘1’ to speak to the mental health team)
enquiries@cqc.org.uk
cqc.org.uk
For complaints about anything that may have happened during your time in hospital under section (in England).
Citizens Advice Bureaux (CABx)
03444 77 20 20 (Wales)
03444 111 444 (England)
TextRelay users should call 03444 111 445
citizensadvice.org.uk
Provides free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities. They also have an online self help service.
Civil Legal Advice
0845 345 4345
gov.uk/civil-legal-advice
The Civil Legal Advice can tell you if you’re eligible for legal aid and can give you free and confidential legal advice in England and Wales.
Healthcare Inspectorate Wales
0300 062 8163
hiw@wales.gsi.gov.uk
For complaints about anything that may have happened during your time in hospital under section (in Wales).
The Law Society
020 7242 1222 (England)
029 2064 5254 (Wales)
lawsociety.org.uk
The Law Society provides details of solicitors you can get in touch with for specialist legal advice.
Mental Health Lawyers Association
mhla.co.uk
Professional association of Mental Health Lawyers in England and Wales.
Mental Health Tribunal (England)
0300 123 2201
gov.uk/mental-health-tribunal/overview
Deals with cases in England relating to the Mental Health Act 1983, for example deciding whether you can be discharged from your section.
Mental Health Tribunal for Wales
029 2082 5328
mentalhealthreviewtribunal.gov.wales
Deals with cases in Wales relating to the Mental Health Act 1983, for example deciding whether you can be discharged from your section.
Revolving Doors Agency
020 7407 0747
revolving-doors.org.uk
For people with mental health problems in contact with the criminal justice system.
Where can I get support?
Local Mind
Local Minds support over 280,000 people across England and Wales. Their services include supported housing, crisis helplines, drop-in centres, employment and training schemes, counselling and befriending. They may be able to help you find advocacy services in your area.
Find your local Mind here.
Find an advocate
An advocate is a person who can both listen to you and speak for you in times of need. Having an advocate can be helpful in situations where you are finding it difficult to make your views known, or to make people listen to them and take them into account.
For information on advocacy services and groups in your area, you could start by contacting the Mind Legal Line and your local Mind. You can also contact the Patient Advice Liaison Service (PALS) in England, or the Community Health Council in Wales.
Read more about how advocacy might help you.
This information was published in August 2018. We will revise it in 2020.
