Information: The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 was hailed as an international landmark in modern mental health legislation, with respect for human rights, dignity and equality enshrined within it. In 2002, Holyrood Conferences convened the major event facilitating debate and discussion on this hugely important piece of legislation.
Now, five years after the Mental Health Act was passed by the Scottish Parliament, we present a conference which will not only provide a forum to contribute to the Scottish Government’s review of the Act, but also discuss and assess how Scotland’s mental health community has responded to this pioneering law.
As well as using sophisticated electronic voting technology to allow delegates to make their voices heard on the key issues being examined by the Mental Health Act Review Group, this conference will discuss current and future challenges for mental health in Scotland, including:
- How effectively have the new provisions, such as advance directives and community-based treatment orders, been implemented?
- Have the experiences of service-users and carers improved since the Act came into power?
- How have both hospital and community-based mental health services changed over the past five years and how should they develop in the future?
- What are the challenges facing specialist services for key user groups, such as dementia sufferers and mentally disordered offenders?
- How can we continue to build and develop care, support and strategies beyond treatment, helping people who have already experienced mental ill-health towards recovery and self-management, and working to promote mental wellbeing for all?
Providing the opportunity to both reflect on the past five years and look forward to future developments in legislation, policy, provision and prevention, this event is for everyone who has a stake in mental health in Scotland.
Contact: Please see the website: http://conferences.holyrood.com/content/view/509/29/ for more information
If you have any questions please email mentalhealth@holyrood.com, or phone 0131 272 3101
