Respecting the rights

Last week an historic reform took place in the Victorian Parliament that will change the way we treat mental health patients in our state.
The new Mental Health Act will for the first time put the human rights of patients at the centre of care and treatment.
Our society has come such a long way from the era of institutionalisation, where those suffering a mental illness were locked away and treatment was forced upon them without consent.
However, until last week our legislation has not.
Our previous 30-year-old Act was the oldest mental health legislation in our country.
It denied patients the right of decision regarding their treatment.
This was in conflict with international human rights law and standards, and in many cases prolonged recovery and caused more pain.
The new Act gives rights back to mental health sufferers.
It aims to empower the patient and their family or support network to decide on factors regarding their treatment, under recommendations from their doctors.
I understand, as many who have known someone suffering a mental illness would, that a person’s capacity to make decisions may fluctuate.
But they deserve the right to be given every opportunity to be involved in the decision-making process.
The legislation will allow patients to have their wishes heard and when they struggle to make decisions, will give them and their family every support they need to make a well-informed decision.
There are tough new restrictions on compulsory treatment to ensure it is absolutely necessary before proceeding.
There are also new safeguards to protect patients, which include an independent tribunal, a Mental Health Complaints Commissioner, supported decision-making and advance statements setting out preferred treatment in the event of a future illness.
Mental illness is one of the most common health issues we face.
With about 1 million adults suffering from depression and more than 2 million suffering from anxiety, most of us have either experienced mental illness or know someone who has.
This Act is therefore one of the most important pieces of legislation to be passed by Parliament this year, allowing mental health patients to be cared for in a more respectful, dignified and effective way.
Andrew Ronalds,
Liberal Member for Eastern Victoria.