Today saw the release of the report, Monitoring the Mental Health Act in 2019/20, produced by the Care Quality Commission.

In response to this, Will Johnstone, Policy Manager at Rethink Mental Illness, said:

“This important report highlights just how varied the application of the Mental Health Act has been following the spread of COVID-19.  It’s particularly encouraging to see the Care Quality Commission highlight the need for greater access to advocacy services. As one of the key recommendations put forward by the Independent Review of the Mental Health Act, this will help more people being held under the Act to better understand their rights, and to make more informed choices about their care.

“While there are examples of good practice, it is undeniably concerning to see that longstanding issues, like a lack of service user involvement in care planning, may have been exacerbated by the pandemic. This must urgently be addressed.

“Secure care services have demonstrated an ability to enact change at speed under a challenging set of circumstances. This will remain important, not only under the current conditions, but also in anticipation of the forthcoming White Paper on the reform of the Mental Health Act, which will set out the government’s plans for those detained in inpatient services.”

To read the full report, click here.