News Release, 12 July 2001
The Mental Health Alliance will today launch a Charter for Consensual Treatment in a bid to step up pressure on the Government to keep mental health high on the political agenda.
The Charter, which sets out what the Alliance believes is necessary to reverse the rising trend in the use of compulsion, will be launched at a meeting in the House of Commons this morning.
The Mental Health Alliance agrees with the part of the Government's White Paper that states a new Mental Health Act should "reduce wherever possible, the number of individuals who are subject to the use of powers for compulsory care and treatment."
Despite the omission of a Mental Health Bill in the Queen's Speech, the Alliance is determined to push for a new Act which meets the needs of people with mental health problems, carers and professionals at the earliest opportunity.
Campaigners will be calling on MPs, users of mental health services, professionals and members of the public to sign up to the Charter in their numbers, to show Government the strength of support in favour of a more inclusive Mental Health Act.
The Alliance is also publishing a new report, Care Before Compulsion. This details the rise in the use of compulsory treatment in recent years and spells out why a new Mental Health Act should work to reduce coercion for the majority of people with mental health problems and how it could be achieved.
Speaking today, Alliance Chair Paul Farmer said: "We hope that the Charter for Consensual Care will illustrate the overwhelming support for a new and inclusive Mental Health Act. People with mental health problems deserve legislation that adequately and fairly meets their needs.
"We intend to keep up the pressure on the Government to ensure that mental health remains one of the Government's three main health priorities." he said.
Mental Health Alliance membership
Core members: Afiya Trust, AWAAZ (Manchester), BASW, Common Agenda, CPNA, Critical Psychiatry Group, IMHAP, Kings Fund, MACA, MDF, MHF, Mind, NSF, Richmond Fellowship, RCN, SANE, SIRI, Turning Point, UKAN, United Response, UK Federation of Smaller Mental Health Agencies, Unison, US net, Voices Forum
Associate members: ACCI, Age Concern England, Age Concern (London), Alcohol Concern, ACHCEW, AWETU, British Deaf Association, British Psychological Society, Carers' National Association, Church of England Board of Social Responsibility Home Affairs Committee, Confederation of Indian Organisations, Democratic Health Network (LGIU), Depression Alliance, Having a Voice Ltd., Greater London Mental Health Advocacy Network, Justice, Kente, Mencap, NACRO, National Autistic Society, Race on the Agenda, RADAR, Refugee Action, Royal College of GPs, Sign, Social Action for Health, Somali Mental Health Project, WISH, Young Minds
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For further information and interview requests contact please contact the press office on 020 7803 1105 / 1128 or email the press office
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