People detained under the Mental Health Act will be given a greater say over how they are treated and allowed to nominate someone to represent them in the biggest overhaul of mental health laws in 40 years.
The plans are part of a long-delayed Government white paper, which will reform the Mental Health Act 1983, published today. The draft law will allow patients to nominate someone who can represent them in dealings with the authorities and try to address the disproportionate number of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people who are detained under the existing law.
Black people are over four times more likely to be detained under the Act, and ten times more likely to be put on a Community Treatment Order.