Mental health - policy

Each country in the United Kingdom is pursuing social inclusion policies. We will ensure that you know which policies are operating where you work and also include key reports and legislation that have informed the policy.

Government departments and other national bodies are arranged in alphabetical order, items which are dated are arranged chronologically with the most recent first.

You might also like to refer to the guidance and agencies and communities sections for further information on people with mental health problems.

Some of the resources below are in PDF format - see how to access PDF files.

UK wide
England
Northern Ireland
Scotland
Wales

UK wide

Department of Health (2009) Working our way to better mental health: a framework for action
This national framework for mental health and employment supports the Department of Health's New Horizons programme. It is a result of joint working between government departments in England, Scotland and Wales and has been published alongside the following documents; 'New Horizons', 'Work, Recovery and Inclusion' and 'Realising ambitions: better employment support for people with a mental health condition'.

Inclusion Institute
The Inclusion Institute is a national and international centre which aims to build a sustainable and practical evidence base on inclusion. It takes forward the work of the National Social Inclusion Programme (NSIP), which closed on 31 March 2009. NSIP was a four year programme established in late 2004 to oversee the implementation of the cross-government action plan from the Social Exclusion Unit (SEU) report 'Mental Health and Social Exclusion' 2004. For a review of the National Programme for Social inclusion's key achievements across a range of activities, view the National Social Inclusion Programme Fourth Annual Review (PDF 100.3KB).

Legislation

Mental Health Act 2007
The Mental Health Act received Royal Assent on 19 July 2007. It amends the Mental Health Act 1983, and introduces "Bournewood" safeguards through amending the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

England

Department of Health (2011) No health without mental health: a cross-Government mental health outcomes strategy for people of all ages
This strategy sets out six shared objectives to improve the mental health and wellbeing of the nation, and to improve outcomes for people with mental health problems through high quality services.

Department of Health (2011) Delivering better mental health outcomes for people of all ages
A companion document to the strategy document, which describes in detail the shared objectives to achieve better mental health and wellbeing, and the interventions needed in each case.

Department of Health (2009) New Horizons: A shared vision for mental health
The Department of Health's New Horizons programme replaces the National Service Framework for Mental Health. It is a comprehensive programme of action for improving the mental wellbeing of the population and the services that care for people with poor mental health by 2020. The Future Vision Coalition contributed to the Department of Health's consultation for the New Horizons programme. View the Future Vision Coalition's report: A future vision for mental health (2009)

Department for Work and Pensions (2009) Realising ambitions: Better employment support for people with a mental health condition (Perkins Review)
This is an independent review commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions and led by Dr Rachel Perkins. It looks at how to strengthen employment, health and wider state support to help people with mental conditins who are out of work. It is a response to achieving the ambitions of 'Working our way to better mental health: a framework for action' – the first ever National Mental Health and Employment Strategy.

Department of Health (2009) The Mental Capacity Act Deprivation of Liberty safeguards
These safeguards cover patients in hospitals, and people in care homes registered under the Care Standards Act 2000, whether placed under public or private arrangements. The aim is to implement the safeguards in April 2009. The safeguards are designed to protect the interests of extremely vulnerable service users.

Department of Health (2008) Implementation of the Mental Health Act 2007: transitional arrangements
This Department of Health document explains the transitional provisions associated with changes to the Mental Health Act that come into force on 3 November 2008.

Department for Health (2004) The National Service Framework for mental health - five years on
A progress report on the progress on implementation of the National Service Framework for Mental Health.

Department of Health (2004) National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services: The mental health and psychological wellbeing of children and young people
This is the standard on child and adolescent mental health which forms part of the National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services.

Department of Health (1999) National Service Framework for Mental Health
This National Service Framework addresses the mental health needs of working age adults up to 65. It sets out national standards; national service models; local action and national underpinning programmes for implementation.

HM Government (2009) Work, Recovery and Inclusion: Employment support for people in contact with secondary mental health services
This government strategy sets out a series of actions that will help meet the aspirations of people in contact with secondary mental health services who want to work.

Northern Ireland

DHSSPS (2009) Delivering the Bamford Vision. Action Plan 2009-2011 (PDF 635KB)
This action plan sets out the government’s commitment to improving mental health and wellbeing of the population of Northern Ireland and to driving service improvement for those with a mental health need or a learning disability.

Bamford Review of Mental Health and Learning Disability (Northern Ireland) (2006)
In 2002 DHSSPS initiated an independent review of mental health and learning disability law, policy and service provision, now referred to as the Bamford Review. The review published a series of 10 detailed reports with almost 700 recommendations; these reports can be accessed from the Review's website.

Department for Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) (2009) Legislative framework for mental capacity and mental health legislation in Northern Ireland (PDF 241.8KB)
This policy consultation document attempts to draw together key messages stemming from Bamford's legislative report and from the responses to Delivering the Bamford Vision. The document draws especially on recent developments in law and practice in the rest of the United Kingdom.

Department for Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) (2009) Our plans for new mental capacity and mental health laws in Northern Ireland (PDF 1.11MB)
An easy read version of the Legislative framework for mental capacity and mental health legislation in Northern Ireland.

Department for Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) (2008) Delivering the Bamford Vision
The Northern Ireland Executive's response to the Bamford Review including links to the full document, a summary document and an easy read version.

Legislation

The Mental Health (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2004
This Order amends Articles 77 and 78 of the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986.

The Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults (Northern Ireland) Order 2003
This Order makes provision for the protection of children and vulnerable adults.

The Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986
Provides the legal framework in Northern Ireland for compulsory admission and treatment of patients suffering from mental illness.

Scotland

NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (2005) Improving the quality of mental health services in Scotland: A strategic work programme 2005-2008
This sets out the strategic work programme for mental health 2005-2008. NHS QIS is working on a new strategic work programme for mental health 2009-2012 which will be launched in spring 2009.

Scottish Government (2009) Towards a mentally flourishing Scotland: Policy and Action Plan 2009-2011
This policy and action plan outlines the Government's plans for mental health improvement for the period 2009-2011.

Scottish Government: Mental Health in Scotland
The Government's policy on Mental Health is to maintain the mental wellbeing of the people in Scotland, and improve the situation of those with mental ill-health.

Scottish Government (2007) Towards a Mentally Flourishing Scotland: The Future of Mental Health Improvement in Scotland 2008-11
A discussion paper on mental health improvement 2008-2011.

Scottish Executive (2007) Rights, Relationships and Recovery: The Report of the National Review of Mental Health Nursing in Scotland
This was the first national review of mental health nursing in Scotland. It aims to enhance the role of mental health nurses to ensure the best evidence and values-based practice can be delivered in order to improve the outcomes and experience of care for service users.

Scottish Executive (2006) Rights, Relationships and Recovery: The Report of the National Review of Mental Health Nursing in Scotland
The aim of Rights, Relationships and Recovery is to enhance and develop mental health nursing in Scotland and produce continual improvements in the experiences and outcomes of care of service users, their families and carers.

Scottish Executive (2006) Delivering for mental health
'Delivering for Mental Health', the mental health delivery plan for Scotland, sets the agenda for mental health in Scotland to 2010. It introduced 14 commitments and 3 targets across a range of initiatives to help improve the care and treatment of people with mental health problems.

Scottish Executive (2005) The Mental Health of Children and Young People: A Framework for Promotion, Prevention and Care
This Framework was developed to assist all agencies with planning and delivering integrated approaches to children and young people's mental health.

Legislation

Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003
This Act was introduced to the Scottish Parliament in September 2002 and given royal assent in April 2003.

Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability (2007) The new Mental Health Act: an easy read guide (PDF 4.22MB)
An easy to read guide to the new Mental Health Act.

Scottish Government (2004) The New Mental Health Act - What's it all about?: A Short Introduction
A short introduction to the new Mental Health Act.

Scottish Parliament Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Bill (2006)
The Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Bill is intended to give greater protection to adults at risk of abuse. This includes those who are mentally unwell.

Wales

Children's Health & Social Care Directorate & Welsh Assembly Government (2006) National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services in Wales (PDF 1.03MB)
Chapter four looks at children and young people with mental health problems and disorders, and chapter five looks at disabled children and young people.

National Assembly for Wales (2001) Adult Mental Health Services for Wales: Equity, empowerment, effectiveness, efficiency (PDF 801.02KB)
This ten year strategy sets out the direction and standards for mental health services in Wales.

National Assembly for Wales (2001) Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Strategy - Everybody's Business (PDF 287.7KB)
This ten year strategy identifies the major impact mental health disorders and problems can have on the lives of young people and can affect the quality of life of those around them. The strategy aims to establish comprehensive, effective and high quality services across Wales.

Welsh Assembly Government (2005) Raising the Standard. The Revised Adult Mental Health National Service Framework and an Action Plan for Wales
The Revised National Service Framework for adult mental health services in Wales' updates the original NSF published in 2002. Standard one looks at social inclusion, health promotion and tackling stigma.