- Approved mental health professional
An individual responsible for the assessment and hospital admission of people who have been detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 (Great Britain. Mental Health Act 1983. London: The Stationery Office; 1983). Approved mental health professionals were introduced in the 2007 amendment to the Mental Health Act 1983 and replaced the role of approved social workers. They include social workers, nurses, occupational therapists and psychologists.
- Community treatment order
An order allowing people who have been detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 to be discharged from hospital on the condition of meeting certain requirements. If the requirements are not met, then a person can be involuntarily readmitted to hospital.
- Forensic detention
The detention of an individual under the Mental Health Act 1983 by any of the forensic services, for example police or a court of law.
- Mental Health Act 1983
A UK Act of Parliament that applies in England and Wales and gives approved mental health professionals the power to detain people who have a mental health disorder in hospital. The Act was amended in 2007.
- Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003
An Act that replaced the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984. As per the 1984 Mental Health Act, it is primarily concerned with the detention of people with mental health disorders.
- Mental health officer
An individual responsible for the assessment and hospital admission of people who have been sectioned under the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984. The role is broadly similar to that of approved mental health professionals in England and Wales.
- Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984
The Act that replaced the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1960 and is primarily concerned with the detention of people with mental health disorders. It is comparable to the Mental Health Act 1983 for England and Wales.
- Mental health tribunal
A legal proceeding that people who are sectioned under the Mental Health Act 1983 can apply for in order to be discharged. It involves a panel of experts including a judge, a psychiatrist and a lay person with specialist knowledge of the Mental Health Act, and usually takes place in a hospital.
- Named Person
An individual who is chosen by a person who is detained under the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 to represent their interests. The Named Person role is similar to the Nearest Relative role in England and Wales, under the Mental Health Act 1983.
- Nearest Relative
A family member allocated to represent the interests of a person who is, or may be, detained under the Mental Health Act 1983. The Nearest Relative is a safeguard to protect the rights of a service user, with particular importance when the service user lacks mental capacity.
- Reflexivity
This refers to the reflections of an author conducting qualitative research on how their knowledge, views and experiences may influence the research process.
- Restricted service user
A service user who is involuntarily admitted to hospital under the criminal pathway of the Mental Health Act 1983 and who is subject to a ‘restriction order’. Among other things, approval of leave, transfer and discharge needs to be granted by the Ministry of Justice for these individuals.
- Sectioned
A person who is detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 under sections 2 or 3 is sometimes described as ‘sectioned’.
- Supervised community treatment
Takes place under a community treatment order.
