Your Rights: Guide to the Mental Health Act 2001

We wrote this booklet, often referred to as the 'blue book', to tell you about your rights under the mental health law. Knowing about your rights can help you to be more involved in your care and treatment and to feel more empowered.

This booklet answers a number of questions about mental health services including admission to hospital, your rights when receiving treatment, giving consent to treatment, and having a mental health tribunal.

As it contains general information only, you may wish to discuss any questions you have further with any member of your multi-disciplinary care team. Your friends, family members, carers and other people involved in your care and treatment may also find this booklet helpful.

This booklet is available in English, Irish and five other languages.

We are reviewing the Service User Guide to the Mental Act 2001, commonly known as the ‘blue book’.  We will be replacing this single volume with a number of smaller, more accessible booklets, each focusing on a different area and topic. The first of these booklets has been published, called Know Your Rights, which is a guide specifically for involuntarily detained patients.

	Your Guide to the Mental Health Act, 2001
	Do threoir maidir leis an Acht Meabhair – Shláinte 2001
	Arabic  – Your Guide to the Mental Health Act, 2001
	Chinese – Your Guide to the Mental Health Act, 2001
	French – Your Guide to the Mental Health Act, 2001
	Polish – Your Guide to the Mental Health Act, 2001
	Russian – Your Guide to the Mental Health Act, 2001