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Useful resources

Mental Health Rights Information, State by State

CannonSaltSenior Contributor

Mental Health Rights Information, State by State

Mental health rights in Australia are enacted at a state level. I've tried to provide links to legislation and more accessibly-written material, but some of the more general sites also link to the relevant legislation prominently. I was surprised to find that several jurisdictions have recently reviewed their mental health laws.

Please add some links that you've found useful when learning about your rights as a mental health patient/consumer.

Victoria

Mental health and your rights - Legal Aid Victoria

New South Wales and Norfolk Island

Mental Health Rights Manual - Mental Health Coordinating Council (NSW) - much of this will also be relevant for any Norfolk Islanders.

Queensland

Your rights in treatment - Queensland Government Note: there is a new bill for QLD as of 2015, information available at Mental Health Bill 2015 - Queensland Health - Queensland Government.

Tasmania

Mental Health Act 2013 (Division 7 in particular) - Tasmania & Information for consumers and carers (Tas.) - covers a rights sheet.

South Australia

Mental Health Act 2009 (SA) & Government of South Australia - Mental Health For some reason, the SA department of health's website is inaccessible, but hopefully that's just a glitch.

Northern Territory

Rights and Responsibilities Pamphlet (NT)&Legislation (NT)

Australian Capital Territory

Legislation (A.C.T.) - note that there is a current bill being debated.

Western Australia

Mental Health Commission (WA) - again, the law is being updated, changes will commence on 30 November 2015 - you can read more about rights under the new law in a PDF downloadable pamphlet.

2 replies

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In response to: Mental Health Rights Information, State by State

CherryBombSenior Contributor

Re: Mental Health Rights Information, State by State

Great resources @CannonSalt! Thanks

In response to: Mental Health Rights Information, State by State

TerrySenior Contributor

Re: Mental Health Rights Information, State by State

Well, this is pretty funny - WE HAVE NO RIGHTS.

In what other area of healthcare do patients have to 'read their rights'. Nb. On a lighter note I presume bipolars would like the right to moodiness, and schizophrenics would probably like their voices to have the right to remain silent.

Hi. It's me - terry. And, like usual, i'm annoyed - for obvious reasons.

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