grah

[ewt]

Mental care bill back in Commons.

More info, anyone?

The whole "personality disorder" thing bothers me greatly.

Comments

[403.livejournal.com]

In the U.S., "personality disorder" diagnoses are used as a dumping ground for people that a given professional has trouble with. From what little I've heard, the UK system works similarly.

[shuripentu.livejournal.com]

Everyone I've seen in the UK has been very reluctant to diagnose: the usual "it's a label; it doesn't help" spiel. So I think it depends on the doctor/clinic.

[mubeimmik.livejournal.com]

It should bother you greatly. It should bother EVERYONE greatly. Wait to put even more stigma on people with mental illnesses!

[sci.livejournal.com]

It's certainly ripe for interpretation and abuse. I'd need to read the actual proposal.

[damerell.livejournal.com]

I thought - m'mother having sat on a few boards considering release of same - that people who posed a danger to themselves or others could already be locked up.

[spaglet.livejournal.com]

A brief read of the pamphlet issued about the Bill (and a quick visit to the BMJ's layman's guide to sectioning) suggests that the legally-required two doctors and a social worker is a pain, really, when you've got all the slop from the closure of mental hospitals (yes, often horrendous places - but centralised and therefore more effective per pound) that you've got to deal with. They refer to "assertive outreach, crisis resolution, home treatment, and early intervention teams" as examples of innovation the bill will allow, and claim that a better framework is needed to disburse the extra £300m that was being spent per year in 2004 compared with 2001. (One might ask exactly what the £300m is signalling, because I don't as yet think it's what they think it is.)

The mental health charity MIND's complaint is that Sir Humphrey has ignored the committee in the drafting of the actual Bill. Looking at how they have reportedly (by themselves - this is in the official summary publication from the DoH (http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/idcplg?IdcService=GET_FILE&dID=26970&Rendition=Web)) improved things, it rather looks like there are still many coach sized holes in the guidelines.

They state that a new framework is required by the finding that certain provisions of the 1983 Mental Health Act currently in force have been found in contravention of the ECHR. This might well be true. This bill, however, appears to miss the point quite successfully, and ignore everyone with a professional interest in the subject.

I have much reading to do, I think.

[(Anonymous)]

Is there anywhere we can read the actual proposals? I'm not sure I trust a journalist to tell me what's actually going on.

[pfy.livejournal.com]

That was me, btw.

[ewtikins.livejournal.com]

That's kindof why I was asking for more information. The BBC article doesn't really give much information at all.

[keira-online.livejournal.com]

Could you reply to this, and then I'll remember to look up the stuff while I'm at work...(brain not in gear atm, but I've got most of the links at work)
Mental Health Act Bill...rereading in the Commons again.

[ewtikins.livejournal.com]

*poke*

[siliconshaman.livejournal.com]

Oh brilliant... if you disagree with a doctor now they can have you sectioned. [after all, disagreeing with an authority figure must be an indication of a mental illness].

the system was broken before [speaking as a counselor here], and it doesn't look like they've fixed it any.

[keira-online.livejournal.com]

Current progress on the Bill....(both external links, pretty well explained)
http://www.scmh.org.uk/80256FBD004F6342/vWeb/wpKHAL6H9L83
http://www.mentalhealthalliance.org.uk/mentalhealthbill/index.html

The actual progress (rather heavy going)...
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Legislation/Actsandbills/DH_4002034

And a few other useful links...
http://www.mind.org.uk/Information/Legal/OGMHA.htm
http://www.mhac.org.uk/

And what they passed in Scotland (which makes rather more sense as they have a separate Bill for those who are actually a danger to others)....
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/bills/billsPassed/b64bs1.pdf

I'm hoping the links work. They never show up as links until i've posted thw comment.