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Mental Health Act 1983

An overview of your rights under the Mental Health Act. Includes FAQs, explanations of legal terms and links to further information and support.

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:

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

Care Quality Commission (CQC)

cqc.org.uk
Regulates and inspects health and social care services in England.

Citizens Advice

03444 111 444 (Adviceline)
03444 111 445 (Text relay)
citizensadvice.org.uk
Free, confidential information and advice on your rights, including with money, housing, legal and other problems.

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.

First Tier Tribunal (Mental Health)

gov.uk/courts-tribunals/first-tier-tribunal-mental-health
Deals with cases in England relating to the Mental Health Act 1983.

Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW)

0300 062 8163
hiw.org.uk
Independent regulator for healthcare in Wales, where you can make complaints and provide feedback.

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.

Mental Health Lawyers Association

mhla.co.uk
Professional association for solicitors specialising in mental health law. Includes a list of solicitors by local area.

Mental Health Review Tribunal for Wales

mentalhealthreviewtribunal.gov.wales
Deals with cases in Wales relating to the Mental Health Act 1983.

Revolving Doors Agency

020 7407 0747
revolving-doors.org.uk
Supports people with mental health problems who have had contact with the criminal justice system.

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

References are available on request. If you would like to reproduce any of this information, see our page on permissions and licensing.

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