The voice of protestors against the planned reforms of the United Kingdom's Mental Health Act have reached the prime minister, who said last week that he “entirely understood” their concerns but added that public worries about people with severe mental disorders could not be ignored.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Tony Blair acknowledged the concerns of the Mental Health Alliance, a group of more than 50 organisations, including the Royal College of Psychiatrists and mental health charity MIND. He said the concerns would be carefully considered before the new legislation came before parliament.
“I entirely understand the concerns the Mental Health Alliance have. I think it is important that they realise there is pressure also from the public in a different direction, because the public worries that some people who, tragically, have a severe mental disorder can pose a danger and threat to the public. We need to balance these two things together,” he said.
More than 1000 campaigners from the alliance lobbied parliament last week (pictured) to put pressure on MPs to oppose the draft bill. The group, which also includes Rethink (formerly the National Schizophrenia Fellowship) and the Law Society, has been actively campaigning against the new legislation since it was launched for consultation in June this year. It held a previous lobby of parliament the same month.
The alliance is now waiting to see whether the bill appears in its original form in the Queen's speech later this month.
ULRIKE PREUSS