Mental Health Act reform: where the government stands

By Tim Spencer-Lane
The draft Mental Health Bill, published in June 2022, contained proposals to update the Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA). A joint committee of both Houses of Parliament was then appointed to scrutinise the draft bill.
The joint committee’s final report, which made 55 recommendations, was published in January 2023.
On 21 March 2024, the government published its long-awaited response to the joint committee’s report. The following is a summary of the response.
When will