INDEPENDENT MENTAL HEALTH ACT ADVOCATE (IMHA)

  • Have you been detained on a section of the Mental Health Act 1983?
  • Do You Know Your Rights?
  • Are you on a Community Treatment Order?

IF SO WE CAN HELP YOU. WE ARE AN INDEPENDENT VOICE FOR PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH DIFFICULTIES.

OUR ADVOCATES WORK AS INDEPENDENT MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATES FOR THE MIND IN BEXLEY ADVOCACY SERVICE.
We can act as an independent voice for people who have been detained under the Mental Health Act

Confidentiality 

  • We will not discuss what you/we have talked about with anyone else without your permission.
  • We will only seek information with your permission and any information found will be shared with you in full (exceptions will apply and these can be explained to you by your Advocate).
  • We will only breach confidentiality if you express anything that is considered to pose a risk to yourself or others. In this situation, we will notify a member of staff but will continue to support you if you wish.

Referral process

  • You should be told by staff at the NHS Trust where you are detained about your rights to an IMHA, both verbally and in writing.
  • You will be asked if you want to see an IMHA.
  • You can telephone the IMHA Service for an appointment to see an IMHA.
  • Additionally, there is a referral form available on our website.
  • You will then meet with an IMHA within 3 working days.

Mind in Bexley IMHA Service is available to all to all patients detained under the Mental Health Act (1983) in an NHS hospital in Bexley or living in the Bexley Borough and on Supervised Community Treatment (SCT; CTO).

Patient Groups Covered include:

  • Older Adults 65 years +
  • Adult Mental Health 18– 65 years
  • Younger Adults 16 and 17 years
  • Forensic patients

Who qualifys for an IMHA?

  • Detained Patients, except those on emergency section
  • Those on Supervised Community Treatment (SCT)
  • Those on Community Treatment Orders (CTO).
  • Informal patients discussing the possibility of serious treatment such as Neurosurgery for mental disorder, or ECT for under 18’s

We can help by

  • Listening to your concerns.
  • Supporting you to state your point of view in meetings (such as ward rounds and CPA’s).
  • Ensuring you are involved in your care and treatment.
  • Empowering you to feel more confident about speaking up in relation to your care and treatment.

If you would like to talk to us about how we may be able to support you,  please call 0203 961 7846