Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Mental Health Act 1986 - SECT 6A

Principles of treatment and care

6A. Principles of treatment and care

It is the intention of Parliament that the following principles be given
effect to with respect to the provision of treatment and care to people with a
mental disorder-

   (a)  people with a mental disorder should be provided with timely and high
        quality treatment and care in accordance with professionally accepted
        standards;

   (b)  wherever possible, people with a mental disorder should be treated in
        the community;





   (c)  the provision of treatment and care should be designed to assist
        people with a mental disorder to, wherever possible, live, work and
        participate in the community;

   (d)  the provision of treatment and care for people with a mental disorder
        should promote and assist self reliance;

   (e)  people with a mental disorder should be provided with appropriate and
        comprehensive information about their mental disorder, proposed and
        alternative treatments, including medication, and services available
        to meet their needs;

   (f)  people with a mental disorder should be treated near their homes or
        the homes of relatives or friends wherever possible;

   (g)  when receiving treatment and care the age-related, gender-related,
        religious, cultural, language and other special needs of people with a
        mental disorder should be taken into consideration;

   (h)  the prescription of medication should meet the best health needs of
        the person with a mental disorder and should be given only for
        therapeutic or diagnostic purposes and never as a punishment or for
        the convenience of others;

        (i)    treatment and care should be provided by appropriately
               qualified people and within a multi-disciplinary framework;







   (j)  every effort that is reasonably practicable should be made to involve
        a person with a mental disorder in the development of an ongoing
        treatment plan. Treatment and care of a person with a mental disorder
        should be based on this plan. The plan should be reviewed regularly
        and revised as necessary.

__________________