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What are the Different Types of Mental Health Legislation?

Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

In the past few decades, the field of mental health has grown by leaps and bounds. Many people now believe that the importance of mental health is on par with that of physical health. There is, however, often debate over the importance of mental health care and the responsibilities that health insurance companies have to cover this kind of care. With the development of the mental health field has come appropriate legislation. Many of the debates regarding mental health care are represented by mental health legislation and the overturning or amending of such legislation.

The key topics that are covered in mental health care legislation are the treatment of patients who require mental health care and the ways in which therapists, doctors, hospitals, the families of patients, and insurance companies are responsible for patients. The word responsible is key here. Mental health legislation is often enacted with the intention to clarify who is responsible for the people who require mental health care and the costs incurred with providing mental health care

Mental health legislation covers the treatment of patients undergoing mental health care.
Mental health legislation covers the treatment of patients undergoing mental health care.

Two examples of mental health legislation are the Mental Health Parity Act and the Mental Health Act of 1983. While these examples are limited to legislation that has passed in the United States and the United Kingdom, there are other countries that have passed mental health legislation as well. Canada and Australia, for examples, have also passed mental health legislation.

Medical insurance plans must cover some mental health needs in the United States.
Medical insurance plans must cover some mental health needs in the United States.

In 1996, the United States signed into legislation the Mental Health Parity Act, which is often abbreviated to MHPA. This act stipulates that health insurance issuers and group health plans must not put dollar limits on mental health care that are lower than the limits for medical and surgical treatments and procedures. In October, 2008, the Mental Health Parity Act was, for the most part, superseded by legislation that was attached to the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

The Mental Health Act of 1983 was an act of the United Kingdom’s Parliament that applied to people living in England and Wales. This act set rules and regulations for the care and treatment of people with mental disorders. The act also set rules about what is to be done about the property and personal affairs of a person being treated as an in-patient for a mental health disorder. It also includes legislation regarding the detainment of people suffering from mental health disorders against their will.

Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

In addition to her work as a freelance writer for HistoricalIndex, Diane is the executive editor of Black Lawrence Press, an independent publishing company based in upstate New York. She has also edited several anthologies, the e-newsletter Sapling, and The Adirondack Review. Diane has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. from Brooklyn College.

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Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

In addition to her work as a freelance writer for HistoricalIndex, Diane is the executive editor of Black Lawrence Press, an independent publishing company based in upstate New York. She has also edited several anthologies, the e-newsletter Sapling, and The Adirondack Review. Diane has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. from Brooklyn College.

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    • Mental health legislation covers the treatment of patients undergoing mental health care.
      By: WavebreakMediaMicro
      Mental health legislation covers the treatment of patients undergoing mental health care.
    • Medical insurance plans must cover some mental health needs in the United States.
      By: contrastwerkstatt
      Medical insurance plans must cover some mental health needs in the United States.