Ireland's Mental Health Act 2001: Where are we now?

Abstract

Ireland's Mental Health Act 2001 was fully implemented in 2006 and aimed to bring Irish legislation more in line with international standards such as the European Convention on Human Rights and United Nations Principles for the Protection fo Persons with Mental Illness. The new legislation introduced several important reforms in relation to involuntary admission, independent reviews of involuntary detention, consent to treatment, and treatment of children and adolescents. Although the Mental Health Act 2001 focuses clearly on protecting the right to liberty, it also presents significant challenges in terms of service delivery and resources within Irish mental health services.