It is understood that more than one in four people will experience a mental health problem in their lives. For most, it will be a transitory experience and they can resume their normal lives after their distressing experiences. For many, it will be a life-long condition either of a chronic or relapsing-remitting nature. For all, it will be something that can have profound effects on their legal rights now and in the future.

We can assist in all areas that relate to the experience of mental ill-health. Examples include:-

• Obtaining access to mental health and other services
• Questioning decisions regarding treatment
• Challenging compulsory detention in hospital
• Assisting in the provision of aftercare services
• Looking at the financial help available

We can act for the "patient", his or her relative or friend. Issues of mental health law often feed into and combine with the other issues highlighted at the other tabs. For instance, someone with a severe mental health problem may be thought to "lack capacity" to make certain decisions and thus mental health and mental capacity issues may be inter-linked.

At the moment, most of the advice, assistance and representation we offer in mental health law can be provided under the "legal aid scheme" (Community Legal Service) and will usually be free subject to financial eligibility. Assistance with Mental Health Review Tribunals (MHRT) is always free.

For mental health matters only under legal aid, we are only able to assist those within a 25 mile radius of Milton Keynes.

Please contact us for more information.