ALLIANCE responds to mental health law review
- Area of Work: The ALLIANCE
- Type: News Item
- Published: 27th May 2020
The Review is examining how to better protect people's human rights.
The ALLIANCE has responded to the first phase of consultation by the Scottish Mental Health Law Review led by John Scott QC.
The Review (this link will take you away from our website) aims to “improve the rights and protections of persons who may be subject to the existing provisions of mental health, incapacity or adult support and protection legislation as a consequence of having a mental disorder, and remove barriers to those caring for their health and welfare.”
It is widely recognised that people with lived experience of mental health problems do not enjoy their rights as well as they could in Scotland. The ALLIANCE has made several recommendations, including:
- Invest more resources in community-based prevention, early intervention, and self management so that people get the right help at the right time before reaching states of distress and crisis.
- Implement the recommendations by the independent inquiry into mental health services in Tayside, including those from people with lived experience, and explore how learning from this inquiry can be applied to other parts of Scotland where similar issues exist.
- Ensure people with lived experience are actively involved in meaningful decision-making across all aspects of mental health, including policy/law, budgeting, service design and delivery, monitoring and oversight.
- Undertake a thorough Equality and Human Rights Impact Assessment of future mental health legislation, regulations and guidance.
- Further work to boost the number of good quality advance statements and ensure compliance with them.
- Increased funding for, and access to, independent advocacy, as well as investment in other forms of supported decision-making.
- An ongoing programme of longitudinal research to capture qualitative and quantitative data, framed within an equalities, human rights and intersectional lens.
You can access the ALLIANCE’s consultation response at the links below. You may also be interested in a recent ALLIANCE Live interview with John Scott QC.
End of page.
You may also like:
Read our published response on the voting experiences of people who are Deaf, Deafblind, or who have Visual Impairments.
Continue readingComplete this consultation if you access optometry services, support people to access eye care services, or are an eye care professional.
Continue readingFirst FIFA tournament to have sign language interpretation broadcasts for all matches.
Continue readingThe annual survey by Carers UK helps to shape campaigns and policy work, based on the experiences of unpaid carers.
Continue readingThe Self Management Fund has awarded new grants to 23 organisations across Scotland
Continue readingTheresa Campbell, MSc Psychology student, is investigating the impact of deprivation following cancer treatment.
Continue readingLived experience participation in local decision making affected: "It's draining, I have a chronic condition, hence why I'm going to stop"
Continue readingThe Practice Learning Review Consultation will remain open until 23 July 2026
Continue readingRead our updated members handbook to discover the benefits of your ALLIANCE membership.
Continue readingThe MyCare app is available in the App Store and Play Store.
Continue readingMulti-year funding was at the centre of the Scottish Parliament debate on a Third Sector Partnership Agreement
Continue readingApply for this highly regarded leadership development offer from Leading to Change and PSD Scotland.
Continue readingThe Self Management Programme is changing to focus on the Fund, share learning, and support better health and wellbeing in Scotland.
Continue readingTogethers' new training and consultancy offers are now live.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE joins 54 signatories in calling for accessible news and equal access to information for all.
Continue readingRead the full response to the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) Code of Practice
Continue readingA new app from the Scottish Association for Supported Employment (SUSE) for helping people stay well in work
Continue readingFree self management and wellbeing resource for everyone helping young people with their wellbeing.
Continue readingThe date for this year's DiGiTal Get Together has been announced
Continue readingWe have published our conference report from our annual conference Hope to Action as we look to the future and the work still to be done.
Continue readingNew guidance supports Audiology services to design and develop clinical peer review schemes to support quality assurance.
Continue readingRegister for this paid Advisory Panel opportunity
Continue readingTake a short survey to share your experiences
Continue readingLearn about this new way NDCS are supporting families.
Continue readingBooking is now open for Peer Connect events across 2026/27.
Continue reading