Mental Health Bill Victory!

     Remember a previous blog-post of mine? I asked you to 'back the bill, the Mental Health Bill'. If this is your first time here then probably not (ah well). Anyway...
     The Mental Health Bill, proposed by Gavin Barwell MP, was to repeal and amend pieces of legislation that discriminated against those with mental health problems. These pieces of legislation included: 

• the Mental Health Act 1983, Section 141 (an MP automatically loses their seat if they're sectioned under the Mental Health Act for more than 6 months),
• the Juries Act 1974 (a 'mentally disordered person' cannot undertake jury service), 
• and the Companies [Model Articles] Regulations 2008 (a person can cease to be a director of a public/private company by reason of their mental health).

     Recently, the Bill successfully passed in the Commons and gained approval in the Lords. All it needs now to become is law is the Royal Assent.

     This Bill becoming law is a milestone, a fantastic moment for people affected by mental health problems - its also a great step into breaking the wall of stigma that surrounds mental health and to improving the quality of life by removing barriers and helping enable people to live a fulfilling life. 
     Although this is a tremendous day for mental health, there is still long way to go; from improving mental health services to standing up to and fighting against stigma and prejudice. But still, let us share this victory. 
     A huge thanks to all who supported the Bill - to those who contacted their MPs to raise awareness, to those campaigned and urged others for support, to those who 'backed the bill'. 
Thank you!    

BMNM.

2012 and Mental Health

     2012 has been a big year for mental health, particularly with tackling the stigma surrounding it. Legislation has changed, more and more people are speaking out and campaigns have even been held on TV, in the papers and online. We all hope that these efforts haven't been in vain and have helped to break down the wall of stigma, better our understanding of mental health and improve the lives of others.

     In this blog post I have compiled some of this years biggest news stories concerning mental health - illustrating how much has changed over the course of the year.

     February 8th - The House of Lords (HoL) voted in favour of an amendment to the Health and Social Care Bill - clarifying that mental and physical health will now have equal footing. The amendment itself was put forward by Mind, Rethink, the Royal College of Psychiatrists, The Centre for Mental Health and the Mental Health Foundation. This amendment means that in the NHS there is now a legal recognition that mental health is just as important as physical health. [1]

     June 14th - In the House of Commons (HoC) there was a four and a half hour debate on the subject of mental health it even saw four MPs speaking out about their own mental health problems. 
In the run up to the debate hundreds of people with mental health problems had contacted their MP urging them to speak out about local and national issues surrounding mental health.
The debate covered a wide range of topics including: the need for politicians, the media and public to talk more openly about mental health; the breaking downs of taboos and stigmas; ensuring that everyone is able to ask for help whenever they need it; the problems faced when trying to get help for mental health problems; the need of investing more into talking therapies, crisis care services etc; the need to overhaul the WCA so that those who are too unwell to work can receive the the benefits they need; and ways in which employers can improve conditions in the workplace. 
During the debate, the MP for Croydon, Gavin Barwell, announced his plans for introducing the Mental Health Discrimination Bill into the HoC next week, which will see four pieces of discriminatory mental health legislation amended and overturned. [2]

If you wish to see the full transcript of the debate go to: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm120614/debtext/120614-0002.htm#12061445000002

     September 14th - Introduced by Gavin Barwell, the Mental Health (Discrimination) Bill was voted in favour by MPs - meaning that the Bill will now go onto the Committee stage. If eventually passed it will mean an end to archaic laws that interfere with the rights of people with mental health problems including the prevention of participating in jury service, becoming/remaining a company director and MPs losing their seats if they are sectioned under the Mental Health Act, regardless of recovery. [3]

If you wish to see the progress of this Bill go to: http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2012-13/mentalhealthdiscriminationno2.html

     October 29th- Ed Miliband, leader of the Labour Party, gave a speech on mental health at the Royal College of Psychiatrists following the Labour Party signing the Time To Change Pledge. [4] He stated that the problem of mental illness in the UK is the 'biggest unaddressed health challenge of our age'. He also stated that he wants to give patients the same legal right to mental health therapies as with physical ones. He also criticized some celebrities for reinforcing the taboo and stigma that surrounds mental health and urged for a culture change.  

For the full speech go to: http://www.politics.co.uk/comment-analysis/2012/10/29/ed-miliband-mental-health-speech-in-full

If you would like to make a pledge yourself go to: http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/pledgewall#60018


      November 19th- Mind published new statistics that state that 1/5 people who have experienced a mental health problem have sought help directly because they've been inspired by celebrities that have spoken out about their mental health. As well as this, over 1/3 of participants polled saw that their understanding of mental health and mental health problems had improved as a direct result of hearing famous people share their own experiences. [5]


     As you can see this year the world of mental health has come on leaps and bounds. It has had its revolutions. However, it is still not without its problems; although things have got better there is still a long way to go; I hope that 2013 will be an even better year for mental health and that the revolutions will keep on coming.

From me to you, I wish you a happy new year! 

BMNM.
[1] http://www.mind.org.uk/news/6393_house_of_lords_votes_to_give_mental_health_parity_of_esteem
[2] http://www.mind.org.uk/news/6979_a_landmark_day_for_mental_health_in_parliament
[3] http://www.mind.org.uk/news/7415_leading_mental_health_organisations_welcome_mp_vote_to_scrap_outdated_discriminatory_laws
[4] http://www.mind.org.uk/news/7641_miliband_speech_on_mental_health
[5] http://www.mind.org.uk/news/7776_the_fry_flintoff_bruno_and_pendleton_effect

Support the Mental Health Bill!

    I'm asking you to back the bill, the Mental Health Bill - whether you're a member of the public or work within Parliament. On the 14th September this Bill will be debated within the House of Commons, and we need all the support we can get. I suppose you are asking: 'What is the Mental Health Bill?'
     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 

BMNM.