Question

1) Identify the ten features of mental health legislation and describe each in 75 -150 words nto too long paragrapgh, maximum 175 only please..

Answer 1

Features of mental health legislation are :

1. Promotion of mental Health and prevent mental disorders-it involves promoting behaviour that will enhance the mental will being of people, identifying the cause of the mental disorder and taking appropriate action to eliminate it. It involves best possible measures to promote mental well being and prevent from mental disorders.

2. Mental health assessment in accordance with internationally accepted principles-here mental assessment should be conducted directly for relating the consequences of mental illness. It involves performing a complete reassessment each time a new assessment is performed and promoting clinical training by using the internationally accepted principles.

3. Access to Mental Health Care-every person should have an access to basic mental Health Care. It involves offering basic mental Health Care what is appropriate, having medical practices in keeping with the quality assurance guidelines. Access to mental health care should be affordable and it should be geographically accessible.

4. Self determination-involves giving written and verbal information about the treatment the patient. If the patient is unable to read then a detailed explanation verbally should be given to the patient. Giving importance for the patients opinion regardless of his or her ability and giving a careful consideration.

5. Provision of least restrictive type of mental healthcare-the person with a mental disorder should be given the healthcare which is least restrictive. It involves maintaining a legal infrastructure for maintaining community based healthcare. Taking steps to eliminate isolated rooms and restriction in creating new isolated rooms.

6. Right to be assisted in the exercise of self determination-if the person feels difficulty in and accepting the decisions taken or unable to decide by himself, he or she can have the advice of a third party of his or her choice. It involves informing the patient about his rights, facilitating the assistance if possible free of cost, suggesting a potential assistance.

7. Automatic periodical review mechanism-reviews should be taken automatically,it should take place at reasonable intervals. It involves appointing a review body and entitling the patient to meet the review body. It also involves requesting the members of the review body to meet the patient.

8. Qualify decision maker-the decision maker should be qualified. The person should be knowledgeable independent impartial. It involves providing sufficient remuneration to the decision-maker, providing sufficient training to the decision maker.

9. Availability of the review procedure-there should be review procedure that should be available for any decisions made by the judge or healthcare providers. It involves having a review procedure that is operational. The review procedure should be available at the request of the interested party, the patient should be given an opportunity to be heard.

10. Respect of the rule of law-all decisions should be made in keeping with the law and not on any other base. It involves informing the patient about their rights, providing training for the decision makers based on the rule of law. The law should be understandable accessible to everyone.