The potential unintended consequences of Mental Health Act reforms in England and Wales on people with intellectual disability and/or autism

Authors

Rohit Shankar, Peninsula Medical School
Samuel Tromans, University of Leicester
Kamaldeep Bhui, University of Oxford
Indermeet Sawhney, Royal College of Psychiatrists
Mahesh Odiyoor, University of Chester
Ken Courtenay, RCPsych
Ashok Roy, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust
Harm Boer, West Midlands Partnership Alliance
Regi Alexander, Oxford Textbook of Psychiatry of Intellectual Disability
Asit Biswas, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust
Jane Mccarthy, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Gautam Gulati, King's College London
Richard Laugharne, Peninsula Medical School

ORCID

• Rohit Shankar: 0000-0002-1183-6933

Abstract

The draft Mental Health Bill, which amends the Mental Health Act 1983 for England and Wales, proposes protections for people with intellectual disability and/or autism (ID/A) to prevent detention in hospital in the absence of mental illness. This editorial critically appraises the positive impact and unintended consequences of the proposed reforms for people with ID/A.

DOI

10.1192/bjp.2023.10

Publication Date

2023-02-07

Publication Title

British Journal of Psychiatry

Volume

222

Issue

5

ISSN

0007-1250

Keywords

autism, equality, intellectual disability, Mental Health Act, mental health law

First Page

188

Last Page

190

Recommended Citation

Shankar, R., Tromans, S., Bhui, K., Sawhney, I., Odiyoor, M., Courtenay, K., Roy, A., Boer, H., Alexander, R., Biswas, A., Mccarthy, J., Gulati, G., & Laugharne, R. (2023) 'The potential unintended consequences of Mental Health Act reforms in England and Wales on people with intellectual disability and/or autism', British Journal of Psychiatry, 222(5), pp. 188-190. Available at: 10.1192/bjp.2023.10