Question

Identify the ten features of mental health legislation and describe each in 75 -150 words.

Answer 1

Features of mental health legislation:

1. Promotion of mental health and prevention of mental disorders:

Everyone should benefit from the possible mental health measures. Measures should promote the positive well-being of the people. Policymakers should take efforts to promote the mental health condition. The workforce should provide and promote a good mental health. Identify the contributing factors of mental health disorders and eliminate those factors. Steps are taken to prevent the mental disorder by eliminating the all possible causes. Leaders of the organization should provide comfort workplace climate and reduces the stress and workload in order to promote the mental well-being.

2. Access to Mental Health services:

Everyone should be accessible to get basic mental health services. The quality of mental health care should be appropriate in all healthcare facilities. The cost of mental health care should be affordable for all people. Health care professionals should respect the culture and norms of the patient. Maintain's the patient mental health record. Offering coverage of insurance to mental health services. Steps are taken to widely available of all drugs and cover under insurance. Focusing mental health on vulnerable groups. Mental health services and the resources are equally distributed to all geographical areas.

3. Assessment of Mental Health status:

Mental health assessment should be made by using proper guidelines and principles. Mental disorders are included in the ICD classification. The patient should be diagnosed properly and the choice of treatment should be made based on the condition and family wishes. The treatment should not harm the patient in any situation. The political, economic, racial, and social factors should be considered by assessing the person and it should not harm the patient health condition. Reassessment should be done periodically. Each time the assessment should be made newly and included all necessary things and should be recorded.

4. Self-determination:

Mental health professionals should remember that persons have the right to take their own decisions. The treatment may vary from use of drugs to electroconvulsive therapy. A proper explanation of the treatment and the procedure should be given to the patient and family members in an understandable manner, the risks, advantages, and disadvantages should be discussed. Consent should be taken before the procedure or involuntary hospitalization. The patient's culture and values should be respected in treatment decision-making. All essential things should be considered before the invasive procedures.

5.Right to assist in self-determination:

If the person is unable to make decisions of his/her own, the third party can make the decision on behalf of the patient. This also included in the case of the patient has a lack of knowledge, language problems, and disability. The patient can take help from the lawyer or social worker if he/she wishes. Provide accurate information and adequate support. Involvement with the peer group to restore the self-determination. Provide broad strategy of all available interventions to maintain the mental well-being of the person.

6. Provision of least restrictive type:

The legislation should protect the rights of the people. It should have a clear framework for addressing all the issues related to mental health condition. Public awareness should be made about the rights of mental health disorders. Mental health treatment should be offered at least possible settings. The patient information should be confidentially maintained and should not disclose to anyone. The patient has the right to appeal if he/she is involuntarily hospitalized. Treatment also provided in the community or institutional settings for the qualified patients under the principle of the least restrictive alternative.

7.Qualified Decision Maker:

The decision maker may be a family member, friend, relative, or surrogate. The decision maker should have a detailed knowledge of the patient condition and should act legally. In case of incompetence, the decision should be made by the court. In shared decision making the patient has partial autonomy in his/her choice. supported decision making includes power of attorney, advanced directives.

8. Respect to the rule of Law:

Decision-making is based on the laws of the countries. Each country has different rules. The legal right is viewed as the patient have the right to have mental services without discrimination. The person should have the legal capacity in decision making. The decision maker should be thought of risks, benefits, and harms before initiating the treatment. He should communicate with others in order to make a right decision. The decision maker should be clear in all information provided, and legal rules and laws. Laws should be accessible in an easy way and understandable language.

9.Availability of review procedure:

The decision maker should discuss the procedure with the mental health professionals before taking a decision. the procedure should be explained with the presence of the patient. The procedure should be explained in a detailed manner and the implementation of the procedure should be done in a timely manner. The patient should give verbal instructions before the procedure. Review board should create the legislation for the implementation of the action. The representatives should establish legal services.

10. Periodic Review Mechanism:

automatic periodic review mechanism should be offered in order to treatment and hospitalization decisions. The member should be reviewed in a periodical manner by setting a proper interval. The review body should conduct this at the interval of the six-month period. Each person should be reviewed by one review body on one occasion.