The independent review of the Mental Health Act published its interim report in May, which set out its priority themes for further work. The review is now developing its draft recommendations for the government, regarding how the Mental Health Act and associated practice should change.
The review will be running three free workshops during August to engage with mixed audiences on potential options for change, and what they might result in for service users and professionals. The feedback gathered from attendees will help inform the review’s final recommendations that will be published later in the year.
Break-out sessions will provide opportunity for more in-depth discussion on particular themes, and further details on those will be sent to attendees nearer the time of the events.
The review’s aim is to bring together interested parties of all types, but the review team are particularly committed to capturing the views and expertise of service users, carers and professionals with direct experience of the Mental Health Act.
The events will run from 9.30am-1pm and will take place in London (Monday 13 August), Liverpool (Wednesday 15 August) and Exeter (Tuesday 21 August). Reasonable expenses and adjustments can be provided for those attending in a service user or carer capacity.
It is likely that there will also be further opportunities to engage with the review prior to its conclusion. If you would like to find out more about those opportunities, please email MHActReview@dh.gsi.gov.uk.