Leading mental health organisations
have come together today to applaud MPs for voting through
legislation to scrap outdated laws that discriminate against people
with mental health problems.
MPs voted today in favour of the Mental Health
(Discrimination) Bill, which will now go through to the Committee
stage.
If eventually passed, it will put an end to
archaic laws which interfere with the rights of people
with mental health problems from participating in jury
service and becoming or
remaining a company director. It will also change a
law that currently stipulates that MPs themselves will lose their
seats if sectioned under the Mental Health Act, regardless of
recovery.
Paul Farmer, CEO of Mind said: "This is a
momentous day for this country. We are shattering the glass ceiling
that has for so long existed in mental health and prevented people
from playing an active role in society. Parliament, juries and
companies will be more representative and will all benefit from the
changes outlined in this landmark Bill. We are finally starting to
make some significant leaps forward in removing the stigma that
exists around mental health. However, tackling mental health
discrimination is the task of a generation. It is this type of
change that is taking us further down the road and will help to end
discrimination in due course."
Paul Jenkins, CEO of Rethink Mental Illness
said: "We are absolutely delighted that MPs have taken action
to scrap these outdated, deeply unfair rules. This Bill
sends a clear message that people with mental health problems can
and should be able to fully contribute to society on an equal
footing to everyone else."
"It's absurd that capable, intelligent
people are being excluded from key aspects of citizenship, based
purely on the fact they have an illness. People with physical
illnesses such as cancer would never be treated in this way, and
it's great to see politicians from all parties joining together get
rid of these discriminatory laws."
Sue Baker, Director of Time to Change, said:
"This is another historic step towards ending the widespread
discrimination that people with mental health problems face, and
will help us to overturn generations of stigma and prejudice.
There is no reason why people with mental health problems should
not be fit to hold public office, and the fact that this is finally
being recognised by Parliament sends a very positive message to the
millions of people affected by mental health problems that they
have just as great a contribution to make to society as anyone
else.
"We recently saw four MPs speak out in
Parliament about their experiences of mental health problems, and
in Norway we have seen a Prime Minister remain in office while
dealing with depression. Legislation which prevents those of us who
have a mental health problem from fulfilling our potential is not
only a great waste of talent, but also fuels stigma and
discrimination."
Professor Sue Bailey, President of the Royal
College of Psychiatrists said: "I am delighted that Members of
Parliament have supported the Mental Health Discrimination Bill
which goes some way to removing the stigma associated with mental
health problems. I hope that it will soon enter the statute book
and eradicate one of the last bastions of legalised discrimination.
We are proud that so many MPs have supported the campaign and
agreed with us that there should be an end to the stigma around
mental health. This sends a clear message that such discrimination
has no place in today's society."
Friday 14 September
For further information please
contact Gary Ward, Temporary Media & Communications Manager,
Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Tel: 020 7235 2351 ext 6298;
email: gward@rcpsych.ac.uk
For further information, please
contact:
Liz Leicester
or Deborah Hart in the Communications
Department.
Telephone: 020 7235 2351 Extensions. 6298 or 6127
References:
Leading mental health organisations welcome MP vote to scrap outdated, discriminatory laws