The new reforms proposed for the Mental Health Act (MHA) in the UK includes elimination of certain MHA Section 3 provisions specific for people with intellectual disability and/or autism (PwID/A) i.e., detainment without a major and enduring mental illness but on the grounds of serious irresponsible conduct and behaviour. This has caused concern among clinicians, particularly psychiatrists working with this vulnerable population but has been welcomed by patient representatives. In this session we outline how the reforms are viewed from a patient and clinician viewpoint and what the learnings/evidence is from past and present comparable legislative changes across countries with similar mental health legislation (New Zealand/Australia/Canada/USA/European Union etc.). The patient perspective will showcase why the change can influence improved care for PwID/A. The clinical spotlight will highlight concerns such as quality reduction of social support with withdrawal of section 117, legislative chasms leading to trans-institutionalisation to criminal justice systems, risk of inappropriate psychotropic prescribing, from lack of second opinion doctor oversight, “revolving door” admissions, and a lower threshold for iatrogenic harm. This session provides an intersectional analysis to bring to conscious thought the consequences of MHA change to this vulnerable population. The need to create “capable communities” learning from international evidence will be stressed.
This session aims to:
- Showcase nationally and internationally to clinicians (particularly psychiatrists) and policy makers the patient and clinical perspectives to the proposed reforms for MHA for PwID/A.
- Provide the audience with supportive evidence on similar legislative changes in similar legal systems internationally to further their insight and inform future opinion.
- Create a sandpit for emergent thought nationally and internationally to help evolve conscious informed debate to help support this vulnerable population.
Chair: Rohit Shankar, University of Plymouth, Truro, United Kingdom
Rohit Shankar, University of Plymouth, Truro, United Kingdom
Dan Scorer, Royal MENCAP Society, London, United Kingdom
Inder Sawhney, Hertfordshire NHS Foundation Trust, Hatfield, United Kingdom
Samuel Tromans, Leicester University, United Kingdom
