Webinar - Reform of Mental Health and Capacity Law in Scotland: where are we at?

date and time icon 13 Dec 2023 9:00 AM  to  11:00 AM Location of Event Online webinar

Edinburgh Napier's Centre for Mental Health Practice, Policy and Law Research invite you to join them for a webinar on 13 December 2023  that will discuss the latest opinions on the Scottish Mental Health Law Review - where is Scotland at, and where is it going following the Scottish Government's announced mental health and capacity law reform programme.


Background 

In September 2022, the Scottish Mental Health Law Review (Scott Review) published its final report. It made over 200 recommendations for changes in mental health and capacity law aimed at:

  1. Strengthening the voice of people who use services and those who care for them; and
  2. Reducing the use of coercion in the mental health system; and
  3. Securing rights to the help and support needed to live a good life.

The Scottish Government published its response to this report in June 2023. It broadly supported the Review’s recommendations and announced a programme of reform for mental health and capacity law starting during Autumn 2023 and continuing for 6-10 years. The Scottish Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy was published a few days later. It also stated that a delivery plan to accompany the reform programme and strategy would follow.


Webinar, 13 December 2023 

This webinar will be hosted by Edinburgh Napier's Professor Jill Stavart and Professor Colin McKay and will  discuss the reform programme, how the Scott Review recommendations might be reflected in it and compare this with other jurisdictions.

Confirmed Speakers

  • Cathy Asante, Legal Officer – Rights Based Approach, Scottish Human Rights Commission
  • Gordon Johnston, Independent Mental Health Consultant and Writer, Treasurer VOX Scotland
  • Diane Strachan, Head of Mental Health and Incapacity Law Unit, Mental Health Directorate, Scottish Government.
  • Professor Penelope Weller, RMIT University Melbourne and British Academy Visiting Academic Edinburgh Napier University

This webinar will be of interest to persons with lived experience of mental and intellectual disability, their families and carers and representative organisations, health and social care professionals, law and policy makers, the judiciary, academics, the third sector and undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Reserve your place now

Attendance at this webinar is FREE but you must register via this Eventbrite >


Innovative collaboration to champion human rights in mental health law

You can find out more about Edinburgh Napier's role in the Scottish Mental Health Law Review by watching the video below and reading this case study >