Policy papers and consultations

Response to the Joint Committee’s recommendations for the draft Mental Health Bill to reform the Mental Health Act 1983 and deliver a modern mental health service.

• From: Department of Health and Social Care
• Updated: 16 April 2024

• Government response to the Joint Committee on the draft Mental Health Bill

  Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Health and Social…

Plans to change the law that tells people what to do when you need to stay in hospital after a mental health crisis.

• From: Department of Health and Social Care
• Updated: 26 September 2022

The government is publishing a draft Mental Health Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny, to modernise the Mental Health Act for the 21st century.

• From: Department of Health and Social Care and 1 others
• Updated: 27 June 2022

We want your views on the statutory guidance to prevent the inappropriate use of force and ensure transparency and accountability about the use of force in mental health units.

• From: Department of Health and Social Care
• Updated: 7 December 2021

The government has written guidance to help people understand the law about using force in mental health units. We want to know what you think about the guidance.

• From: Department of Health and Social Care
• Updated: 7 December 2021

We want your views on changes to the Mental Health Act to help put patients at the centre of decisions about their own care.

• From: Department of Health and Social Care
• Updated: 24 August 2021

We want to change some things in the Mental Health Act. Please tell us what you think of the changes.

• From: Department of Health and Social Care
• Updated: 10 August 2021

Assessment of the amendment, which introduced the Liberty Protection Safeguards to replace the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

• From: Department of Health and Social Care
• Updated: 28 January 2021

This green paper sets out the ambition that children and young people who need help for their mental health are able to get it when they need it.

• From: Department for Education and 1 others
• Updated: 25 July 2018

Government response to the joint report of the Education and Health and Social Care Committees on 'Transforming children and young people's mental health provision: a green paper'.

• From: Department for Education and 1 others
• Updated: 25 July 2018

The terms of reference for the review of the Mental Health Act 1983 and the impact of the legislation on practices and service users.

• From: Department of Health and Social Care
• Updated: 4 October 2017

The government’s response to the work of the Mental Health Taskforce and the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health report.

• From: Department of Health and Social Care and 2 others
• Updated: 9 January 2017

The third progress report of the suicide prevention strategy sets out what's being done to reduce deaths by suicide in England.

• From: Department of Health and Social Care
• Updated: 9 January 2017

The seventh annual report by the Care Quality Commission on its monitoring activities of the Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA).

• From: Care Quality Commission
• Updated: 18 November 2016

Sets out the framework and indicators that will be used to hold NHS England to account for improvements in health outcomes.

• From: Department of Health and Social Care
• Updated: 1 April 2016

The sixth annual report by the Care Quality Commission on its monitoring activities of the Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA).

• From: Care Quality Commission
• Updated: 10 December 2015

Seeks views to strengthen rights of people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health issues to enable them to live independently.

• From: Department of Health and Social Care
• Updated: 10 November 2015

First published during the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The government is making mental wellbeing a priority and looking at how to make mental health services as effective as possible.

• From: Department of Health and Social Care
• Updated: 8 May 2015

First published during the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Sets out the outcomes and corresponding indicators that will be used to hold NHS England to account for improvements in health outcomes

• From: Department of Health and Social Care
• Updated: 26 March 2015

First published during the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Seeks comments on proposed changes to legislation governing the treatment of people with mental health problems.

• From: Department of Health and Social Care
• Updated: 26 March 2015

First published during the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government