The New Mental Health Act: A guide to the role of the mental health officer - Information for service users and their carers

ISBN 0 7559 4970 6

This document is also available in pdf format (120k)

Contents

1 Guiding principles
2 Some terms used in this guide
3 What is a mental health officer?
4 What does the mental health officer do?
(a) Emergency and short-term orders
(b) Compulsory treatment orders
(c) Orders related to criminal proceedings/offence
5 When will the mental health officer prepare a Social Circumstances Report ( SCR)?
6 Can I request a different mental health officer?
7 Further information contacts
8 Acknowledgements
9 Other guides in this series

In March 2003 the Scottish Parliament passed a new law, the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003. It came into effect in October 2005. It sets out how you can be treated if you have a mental disorder, and says what you rights are.

This guide is one of a series of guides about the new Act, and it explains the role of the mental health officer in relation to the Act. More detailed information on your local mental health officer service can be obtained from the local authority where you live. Your local authority is listed in the telephone directory under council services.

The Act says

• When you can be given treatment against your will
• When you can be taken into hospital against your will
• What your rights are
• What safeguards there are to make sure your rights are protected

This guide is written for people who use mental health services, but it may be useful to others including carers and independent advocates.

Disclaimer

While we have done our best to see that the information contained in this guide was accurate and up to date when it was published we cannot guarantee this. If you have any questions about how the information might apply to you, you should discuss your concerns with a solicitor, your independent advocate or other appropriate adviser.