This Bill will repeal and amend pieces of outdated legislation that discriminate against those with mental health problems. It will remove barriers that are set in law that contribute to the stigmatization of mental illness. It will also show the public that the discrimination of people with mental health problems will not be accepted or tolerated.
The Mental Health (Discrimination) (No 2) Bill was introduced the House of Commons on the 20th June by Gavin Barwell MP. The Bill so far has made some progress within the House of Lords with Lord Stevenson of Coddenham, however, before the Bill had a chance to become an Act the parliamentary session ended. It's second reading will occur on the 14th September.
The law currently stands that:
- An MP automatically loses their seat if they are sectioned under the Mental Health Act for more than 6 months (Mental Health Act 1983, Section 141),
- A 'mentally disordered person' cannot undertake jury service (Juries Act 1974),
- And that a person can cease to be a director of a public or private company 'by reason of their mental health' (Companies [Model Articles] Regulations 2008).
These pieces of legislation build into the old-fashioned and discriminating idea that people can never recover from a mental health problem, and that they cannot be trusted to be part of social, political or economic life. The messages received from these current pieces of legislation make it seem that because the law can discriminate so can we. No.
This Bill is a very important stepping stone, or bridge (or whatever metaphor you fancy) to making a society where people with mental health problems can feel that they can participate to their full potential, without the discrimination and stigmatization that currently surrounds mental health.
The amount of the support the Bill has is fantastic - Mind, Rethink Mental Illness, and the Royal College of Psychiatrists are all supporting the Mental Health Bill, as are large numbers of the public. The Government has also stated that the Bill is in line with the coalition's mental health strategy and will support it to become law. However, more support is still needed. On the 14th September the Bill will be throuroughly analysed, examined and debated; and it is crucial that as many MPs as possible attend this debate and support this Bill to become law. You can help by getting yourself, and others, into contacting to your MP, whether it's face-to-face, on the phone, tweeting, or via e-mail. Making this Bill law will help to improve the lives of many. We hope we can count on your support. Thank you.
To keep track on how the Bill is going you can look here: http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2012-13/mentalhealthdiscriminationno2.html
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