Laws you need to know about

There are a number of pieces of legislation which set out the law on how people with mental illness should be treated and cared for in regards to their illness, and in protecting their rights on a day-to-day basis.

People with mental illness are seen to be a vulnerable group of people as a result of their conditions, and so the Government has a number of pieces of legislation which specify what people are entitled to, policies and procedures for care and treatment, plans for the way in which services should be conducted, and plans for improvement in the future.

You do not necessarily have to understand all of the ins and outs of these different pieces of legislation. But due to the difficulties that many people experience with accessing care and treatment, being aware of some of the basics can help put you in a stronger position to get what you are entitled to, and to know who to turn to. This section outlines some of the more prominent pieces of legislation in regards to mental health, and treatment of people with a mental illness in the community.