Any one of us can experience mental health issues over the course of our lifetime. Find out what kinds of services exist and how they provide support.
For many of us, a mental health issue can be a low period or some type of wellbeing imbalance. Most of these issues can be adequately treated by our local GP, who may decide to refer their patient to community mental health services.
Others can experience something more serious and, in some cases, this may require in-patient treatment.
If you are reading this page and you feel sad, depressed or generally mentally unwell, please visit our Urgent Help and Support page for further advice and how you can seek help.
If you or a loved one is being admitted, either voluntarily or involuntarily, into an in-patient mental health facility, it is in these centres that the Mental Health Commission (MHC) plays a critical role. One of our main functions is to protect the interests of people using mental health services particularly where a person is admitted against their will. We aim to do this by promoting high standards and good practices across mental health services in Ireland and by monitoring practices to ensure that the law is followed by health professionals and service providers.
To find out more about our work, and how we seek to help ensure that anyone accessing in-patient mental health services in Ireland is receiving a quality service, please visit our What We Do page.
If you would like to find one of the centres we regulate and read our latest inspection reports, you can visit our Find a Centre page.
Your Guide to the Mental Health Act 2001
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 multidisciplinary 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.
Your Guide to the Mental Health Act 2001
Published November 2006
Addendum Your Guide to the Mental Health Act 2001. The addendum is currently only available in English.
Published: January 2019
Irish: 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