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 The Mental Health Act 2001 represents the most
important reform of Ireland’s mental health laws in over half a
century. It replaces and updates a number of older pieces of
legislation, most notably the Mental Treatment Act 1945 (Department
of Health, 1945). The Act has profound implications for
patients, carers, mental health professionals and the
public.
The purpose of this module is to outline the central provisions
of the Mental Health Act 2001 as they relate to psychiatric
practice in Ireland. This module does not aim to examine the
issues surrounding delays in the implementation of the Act; these
issues are well explored elsewhere (Daly,
2005; Ganter, 2005; Lawlor, 2005; Owens,
2005).
This module offers guidance on:
- the background to the development of the Mental Health Act
2001
- definitions of mental illness and other terms according to the
Act
- involuntary admission of persons to approved centres
- independent review of detention
- approved centres and miscellaneous other matters.
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