The Mental Health Act 2001 is an Act of the Irish Parliament, the

Oireachtas The Oireachtas (, ), sometimes referred to as Oireachtas Éireann, is the Bicameralism, bicameral parliament of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The Oireachtas consists of: *The President of Ireland *The bicameralism, two houses of the Oireachtas ...

, which sets out the legal procedures for admissions and treatment in approved centres. It aims to protect the rights of everyone using the

mental health Mental health encompasses emotional, psychological, and social well-being, influencing cognition, perception, and behavior. It likewise determines how an individual handles stress, interpersonal relationships, and decision-making. Mental health ...

services. It aims to ensure the patient's best interest is the most important aspect of mental health. The Act says that the patient has the right to receive good quality mental health care, and mental health services should be properly run and regulated. Under the act, mental health workers are obliged to ensure the patient is treated in a way that respects their rights. The Mental Health Act 2001 was enacted by the

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

on 8 July 2001. Most of the important provisions came into force on 1 November 2006. Some less important sections came into force in 2002. The Act provides for the involuntary civil admission of patients on grounds of mental disorder. It also established the Mental Health Commission and the Inspectorate of Mental Health Services. It established three-person (a consultant psychiatrist, a legal chair and a lay member)

Mental Health Tribunal A mental health tribunal is a specialist tribunal (hearing) empowered by law to adjudicate disputes about mental health treatment and detention, primarily by conducting independent reviews of patients diagnosed with mental disorders who are det ...

s which review the detention of patients on a regular basis. A patient has the right to attend their own tribunal. It also outlines the voluntary admission policy. Patients can leave the hospital at any time if they are under voluntary status. If staff feel that they may be a harm to themselves or to others they can hold them for up to 24 hours, and they will be reviewed by two consultant

psychiatrists A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in psychiatry, the branch of medicine devoted to the diagnosis, prevention, study, and treatment of mental disorders. Psychiatrists are physicians and evaluate patients to determine whether their sy ...

. There have been a number of amendments to the Act since 2006. A Revised Act, with amendments incorporated, is available on the Law Reform Commission site.

References

{{Reflist * Mary Keys, ''Mental Health Act 2001'' (Dublin: Round Hall, 2002) * Anne Marie O'Neill, ''Irish Mental Health Law'' (Dublin : First Law, 2005) * Darius Whelan, ''Mental Health Law and Practice: Civil and Criminal Aspects'' (Dublin: Round Hall, 2009)

External links

Mental Health Commission (Ireland)

Mental Health (Citizens Information)

Irish Mental Health Lawyers Association
2001 in Irish law Acts of the Oireachtas of the 2000s Mental health in Ireland