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Mental Health Act 1959

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Our current understanding of poor mental health remains fragmented. After decades of devotion by many noted scholars, our comprehension is far beyond that of previous generations but with 450 million people currently suffering poor mental health, approximately 1 in every 4 adults (World Health Organisation, 2001) and 68% of women and 57% of men with a mental illness being parents (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2012) it is vital that we continue to explore the realities faced as well as the known and expected outcomes of those affected. Despite our enhanced awareness and increased compassion over previous generations, there is still a great deal of misunderstanding and stigma attached to parental mental ill health which has led to my personal …show more content…

When this was not possible and treatment could not be avoided or agreed upon by the patient, a legal framework was put in place to safeguard the patient 's best interests. There was also a sharp decline in treatment taking place within institutions such as hospitals wherever possible with the alternative of care in the community becoming the norm and ideal.

“With the support of the National Association of Mental Health (NAMH), the 1959 Act also abolished the mental health definition “moral imbecile” which had previously been assigned to mothers of children born out of wedlock, particularly those who had born children with multiple partners.” (Neville, K. 2014)

Though ‘The Mental Health Act 1959’ was a major piece of legislation which changed legal policy regarding those suffering with poor mental health and began reducing the oppressive language and attitude of previous policies, it lacked the needed exactitude which resulted in the ‘Mental Health Act 1983’ which provided clarity on issues such as whether detention in hospital due to mental health issues granted the treatment provider 's authority to impose treatment such as medication and electroshock therapy. The most recent revision of this law was the ‘Mental Health Act

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