The Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler T.D., has announced a new public consultation on the ongoing review of the Mental Health Act 2001. The public consultation will provide an opportunity for key stakeholders, including people who have used the mental health services and their families to inform the review prior to publication of draft legislation to update the Act in full.

The Mental Health Act 2001 sets out the care and treatment of people who need inpatient mental health care, with a particular focus on procedures for involuntary detention. The Act further provides for an Inspector of Mental Health Services, safeguards for the rights of involuntarily detained individuals, the establishment of the Mental Health Commission as regulator of mental health services and for mental health tribunals, which review detention orders for people involuntarily detained.

Details on the submission process, including a detailed guidance document and privacy information, can be found at https://www.gov.ie/en/consultation/d8aa2-public-consultation-on-draft-legislation-to-update-the-mental-health-act-2001/.

All queries related to the public consultation should be emailed to mentalhealthactreview@health.gov.ie.

The deadline for submissions is 5pm Wednesday, 31 March 2021.

Due to time constraints, submissions received after this date cannot be considered and extensions cannot be provided.