Have you or one of your loved ones ever been detained under the Mental Health Act (MHA)? If so, we want to hear from you.

Following campaigning by Rethink Mental Illness and others, the Government has announced a review of the Mental Health Act. It is a rare opportunity to reform this important but outdated piece of legislation to better protect rights and improve care.

To do that we need to make sure that the voices of those who have been most affected by the Act are heard. By sharing your story with us, you can help to achieve change by highlighting how the Act currently impacts people’s lives, and how it can be improved to ensure that the rights of those detained under it are fully respected.

To continue, please compete your details below.

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

Phone Number

Postcode

If you have experience of the Mental Health Act, there are other exciting ways to campaign with us to improve the Act.

Please tick your preferred options

having my story in print or taking part in live or recorded media interviews

providing input into the development of our policy and campaigns

campaigning locally (such as meeting your MP or organising a local event)

Rethink Mental Illness regularly reproduces quotes from people’s stories on its website, blogs, publications, and social networking sites to support our campaigns. By completing this online form you will be giving Rethink Mental Illness permission to use your story and quotes anonymously as part of its campaigns.

Are you happy for us to use your name?

Yes

Please tell us your age:

Under 18

19-24

25-34

35-44

45-54

55-64

65 or above

Prefer not to say

Gender:

Female

Male

In another way

Prefer not to say

If none of the above apply to you, please specify how you identify below

What is your ethnic group?

Please choose one option that best describes your ethnic group or background?

White

English/Scottish/Northern Ireland/British

Irish

Gypsy or Irish Traveller

Any other white background, please describe below

Mixed/Multiple Ethnic Groups

White and Black Caribbean

White and Black African

White and Asian

Any other mixed/multiple ethnic background, please describe below

Asian/Asian British

Indian

Pakistani

Bangladeshi

Chinese

Any other Asian background, please specify below

Black/African/Carribean/Black British

African

Caribbean

Any other Black/African/Carribean, please specify below

Arab

Any other ethnic group, please specify below

Prefer not to say

Please specify here

Are you answering as (please select from the list below):

Please note, this question is mandatory

someone that has been detained under the Mental Health Act?

someone that has cared for a loved one that has been detained under the Act?*

someone whose family member or friend has been detained under the Act?**

* you consider yourself a carer

** you don't consider yourself a carer