South Australian Consolidated Acts

MENTAL HEALTH ACT 1993 - SECT 5

5—Objectives

        (1)         The Minister, the Board, directors of approved treatment centres and any court or other body or person engaged in the administration of this Act must, in performing their functions under this Act, seek—

            (a)         to ensure that patients receive the best possible treatment and care; and

            (b)         to minimise restrictions upon the liberty of patients and interference with their rights, dignity and self respect, so far as is consistent with the proper protection and care of the patients themselves and with the protection of the public.

        (2)         The Minister must endeavour—

            (a)         to work towards ameliorating the adverse effects of mental illness upon family life;

            (b)         to rationalise and co-ordinate services for persons who have a mental illness;

            (c)         to assist and encourage voluntary agencies that provide services for persons who have a mental illness;

            (d)         to assist and encourage the development of services designed to reduce the incidence of mental illness in the community;

            (e)         to promote research into the problems of mental illness;

            (f)         to promote a high standard of training for those responsible for the care of persons who have a mental illness;

            (g)         to promote informed public opinion on matters of mental health by the dissemination of knowledge and generally to promote public understanding of and (wherever practicable) involvement in measures for the prevention, treatment and cure of mental illness.