The Mental Health (Care & Treatment) ( Scotland) Act 2003 was passed by the Scottish Parliament in March 2003, Malcolm Chisholm the then Health Minister declared that “ this is an auspicious moment for the Parliament and for everyone with an interest in mental health in Scotland” This milestone in mental health law came into effect on the 5th of October 2005 and has contributed to achieving the ultimate objective of mental health law – to make sure people with mental health problems can receive effective care and treatment
To support the Act in Lanarkshire, the Lanarkshire Mental Health and Well-being Site has a section dedicated to the new Act. This will provide information to help inform services users, carers, public service workers and the general public about the Act, help people to understand their rights under the new Act and inform you of local progress. Initially we want to introduce the Act to you but you will find links to further information throughout this section of the site. It is important to understand that when the Act talks about mental disorder it means, people with mental health problems, personality disorders and learning disabilities. The new Act is intended to improve services for, and protect the rights of, people experiencing a mental disorder. Its main role is to make sure that people with mental disorder receive effective care and treatment. It is there for all people with mental disorder, but it is all the more important in a situation where a person's decision-making is affected by their mental disorder.