Responses to consultation on draft Mental Health (Scotland) Bill published

Date: 25th April 2014
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

All non-confidential responses to the consultation on the draft Mental Health (Scotland) Bill are now published on the Scottish Government website.

Together's response focused specifically on the rights of children and young people and mental health. It reflected on the need to consider the impact of the proposals on children and young people; considered Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and equal access to services; recommended a preventative approach to mental health services and considered children and young people with a parent affected by mental illness.

According to Article 24 of the UNCRC, State Parties must "recognize the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health ...". General Comment 15 to the UNCRC is based on the importance of approaching children's health from a child-rights perspective and emphasises that children's health is affected by a variety of factors including the attention given to and the importance of mental health care.

Together called for a child rights impact assessment (CRIA) to be carried out on the proposals, to fully consider the impact of the proposals on children and young people. We also called for equal access to mental health services and that the needs and rights of all children and young people are taken into account throughout the Mental Health (Scotland) Bill.

• Download Together's response here.
• Non-confidential responses can be accessed here.