Know your rights and the principles under the Mental Health Act 2014
Introduction
Building on the ‘It’s OK to Complain!’ Campaign, the Mental Health Complaints Commissioner (MHCC) has launched new resources about Victorian mental health rights and principles with the aim of:
- Increasing awareness of consumer, carer and family rights when receiving treatment from a public mental health service in Victoria.
- Supporting staff in public mental health services, including the lived experience workforce, to have conversations about rights and principles under the Mental Health Act 2014 (the Act).
- Making it easier to understand the information of consumer and carer rights under the Act.
Developed as the 'Rights and Principles' social media series (the Series), these resources provide a simple, accessible way for consumers, carers and their families, as well as lived experience workers and staff, to quickly understand, educate and communicate rights under the Act.
The Series, available on the MHCC website and social media channels, aim to promote the rights of people currently relying on the system, while work on new legislation and the formation of a new Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission is under-way.
How can I use this information?
A series of social media posts and images, as well as a printable version have been created that you can use as a reference to understand, educate and communicate rights under the current Act. You can also use them to support someone who is seeking to gain a stronger understanding of their rights under the Act as well as what to expect when receiving treatment in the public mental health system.
You can share the Series or select posts that you wish to share from the social media kit on your social media channel. Alternatively, you can print them out as a word or PDF document to use as a reference.
You can access the downloadable social media kit for the Series here.
Alternatively, you can print out the documents below for reference.
Reviewed 25 July 2022