Report highlights gaps in mental health legal advice

A report released today by the Law Centre (NI) has highlighted severe gaps in mental health legal advice and information services in Northern Ireland.

‘Unmet Need’, which is the result of a research by the School of Social Work at Queen’s University, commended the support work of many organisations and individuals but pointed out the lack of specialist independent advice and information services for mental health users and carers.

The research also showed a desperate need for the voices of mental health patients and their carers to be heard by health care professionals and tribunals.

Researcher Jim Campbell said: “People who have mental health problems and their carers have a right to good quality services in Northern Ireland.

“The research found that there were substantial gaps in knowledge of mental health law, uneven systems of advice and information in psychiatric hospitals and that community based agencies struggle to help service users and carers because of underfunding.”

Maura McCallion, assistant director for casework services at the Law Centre added: “We hope that the outcome of this research will be that legal services are developed to ensure greater access to justice for people with mental health difficulties.”

The report makes nine recommendations, focusing on the need to extend and enhance information for patients, to develop training and support for voluntary advice agencies and the legal profession.

Other recommendations include the need to review the practice of regrading patients to voluntary status just prior to an appeal before the Mental Health Review Tribunal and to re-examine the role of the medical member of the tribunal.

(MB/SP)