Across the world mental illness is a top health issue. Northern Ireland Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has forwarded Bills on mental health legislation to the national Assembly. The bills include proposed introduction of new mental capacity legislation and the modernization of existing mental health legislation. According to the Minister's website, the legislation will be "supported by an overarching set of human rights principles." Health Minister Michael McGimpsey is leading the consultation.

The Minister is quoted in the website as saying: "We are now consulting on proposals for long-term legislative change that will make a real difference to people's lives. The aim is to protect the dignity and human rights of some of the most vulnerable people in society including those with a mental disorder, those with a learning disability and those unable to make important decisions for themselves.

"This will ensure that where a person has the mental capacity to make a decision they will be allowed and facilitated to do so. In circumstances where this decision-making ability is impaired, additional powers and protections will be put in place including substitute decision-making arrangements in relation to the individual's treatment, care, welfare, assets and financial affairs.
The Minister concluded: "The overall principle of legislative reform is autonomy. This was envisaged by Bamford and is a vision I am determined to achieve. Through this work, we have a real opportunity to bring long-lasting positive benefits to our society in terms of the enhancement of individual care and protection, dignity and human rights, and public safety."

The Bills are anticipated to be enacted into law within the current Assembly by April 2011.

The Bamford Review of Mental Health and Learning Disability was an independent review examining law, policy and provisions affecting people with mental health needs or a learning disability in Northern Ireland. The Review followed similar exercises in England and Scotland, and was overseen by a Steering Committee "comprising representatives from professional and other interested groups in the mental health and learning disability fields," according to the Bamford Review's website.

Adapted from a press release on the Northern Ireland Health Minister's website.

More Industry Headlines