Your rights

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Your rights

This section tells you about some important rights if you live with a mental illness.

Access to health records

This section looks at your right to see your health records and how to do this. It explains what to do if you think the information on your health records is wrong. In this section, when we say ‘record’ or ‘records’, we mean your health record. This section is for people who live with mental illness and their carers.

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Driving and mental illness

You must tell the DVLA if you a certain mental illness or if your medication affects your driving. This section explains how and when to do this.

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Clinical negligence

This section tells you what clinical negligence is. It explains the difference between a clinical negligence claim and making a complaint. There is also information about how you can get legal funding for claims. This section is for adults affected by mental illness in England and their loved ones and carers. It’s also for anyone else interested in the subject.

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Advance statements and advance decisions - Planning your future care

This section looks at what an advance statements and advance decisions are. It explains how to make them and what happens if they are not followed by professionals.

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Advocacy for mental health - Making your voice heard

Advocacy can help if you are having issues with NHS or social services. This section explains more about what advocates do, how they can help you and how you can find one. This information is for adults affected by mental illness in England and their carers and loved ones. It’s also for anyone interested in the subject.

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Legal advice - Getting help from a solicitor

This section explains how you can find legal help from a solicitor or elsewhere. It tells you about when you might get help to pay for this. This information is for anyone affected by mental illness who needs legal advice.

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NHS treatment - Your rights

This section is about your rights when you use NHS services. It explains how NHS staff should act towards you. And what treatment you may get. This information is for people over 18 who are affected by mental illness in England. It is also for their loved ones and carers and anyone interested in this subject.

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Second opinions - About your mental health diagnosis or treatment

This information explains why you might ask for a second opinion and how to ask for it. You don’t have a legal right to a second opinion, but you can ask for one. We also look at what your options are if you ask for a second opinion and don’t get one. This information is for people over 18 and in England with a mental health condition. It’s also for their carers, friends or relatives and anyone interested in the subject.

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Complaining about the NHS or social services

This section explains how you can make a complaint about the NHS or social services and what support you can get. This information is for people affected by mental illness in England who are 18 or over and their carers, relatives and friends.

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Criminal convictions - How and when to tell others

You may have a conviction if you have admitted to or been found guilty of a crime. This section looks at what a criminal conviction is, what a criminal record is, and when and how to tell others.

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Confidentiality and your mental health information

Many different organisations will need to record information about you. For example, health professionals need to keep information about your treatment. This section explains how organisations should protect the information you give them.

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Challenging cuts to mental health and social care services

Sometimes local authorities or the NHS make cuts or closures to mental health services. It is possible for you to challenge this. This information suggests ways you can do this.

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The Assisted Dying Bill - The key points explained

Here we explain the key points of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, known as the Assisted Dying Bill. This briefing provides an overview of the Bill and who it applies to. It also covers some of the concerns that have been raised about the Bill about mental capacity and mental illness.

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