Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) was introduced as part of changes to the Mental Health Act.

It is a legal right for people who are detained under certain sections of the Act to receive support from an independent advocate.

An IMHA helps people understand their care, treatment and rights, and supports them to beinvolved in decisions about their mental health care.

Help you understand your rights and options
Support you to have your views and wishes heard
Attend meetings with you, such as ward rounds or care reviews
Help you raise concerns about your care or treatment
Support you to challenge decisions or appeal if needed

Our Role

An IMHA is an independent advocate who supports people detained under the Mental Health Act.

Our role is to help you understand what is happening, what your rights are, and to ensure your voice is heard throughout your care and treatment.

Supporting You

We can support you to:

Understand your rights under the Mental Health Act
Understand your treatment and care plan
Ask questions and express your views
Be involved in decisions about your care
Access relevant information and records
We can also support you to attend:

Ward rounds
Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) meetings
Tribunals and Hospital Managers’ Hearings

IMHA support is available to people who qualify under the Mental Health Act.

This may include people who are:

Detained under Section 2 or Section 3
Subject to Guardianship (Section 7)
Receiving supervised community treatment
Being considered for certain types of treatment under the Act
Under 18 and being considered for specific treatments
An IMHA will help you understand whether you are eligible for support.

An IMHA has a duty to respond to reasonable requests to support a qualifying person.

Referrals can be made by:

The individual themselves (self-referral)
Their nearest relative
An Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP)
The Responsible Clinician

IMHA support ensures that people receiving mental health care are not alone in understanding or challenging decisions about their treatment.

It helps to:

Protect individual rights
Ensure people are informed and involved
Support people to speak up and be heard
Provide independent advocacy
Our role is to support you at every stage of your care.