​The Centre for Mental Health and Incapacity Law, Rights and Policy

The Centre for Mental Health and Incapacity Law, Rights and Policy was formally launched on 4th November. The launch event, held in the Rivers Suite, was well attended by members of the legal profession, the judiciary and statutory and voluntary sectors as well as staff from the School of Accounting, Financial Services and Law and Faculty of Health, Life and Social Sciences. 

Guest speakers at the event were Dr Joe Morrow, President of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland, Dr Donald Lyons, Chief Executive of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland, and Adrian Ward, partner of TC Young solicitors and founder of their Adrian Ward Centre. They all gave their support for the establishment of the Centre and each identified areas where its expertise and input will be valuable. Stewart Falconer welcomed guests on behalf the Business School and School of Accounting, Financial Services and Law and Jill Stavert welcomed them on behalf of the Centre. Eilidh Syme, Graduate Trainee Administrator, provided invaluable administrative support in organising the event.       

The focus of the Centre will be, as the title suggests, on mental health and incapacity law rights and policy but it will go beyond the legislation that specifically provides for the care and treatment of individuals. Mental health and incapacity issues often arise in connection with, for example, employment and financial services. Moreover, there is an inescapable requirement for those managing, or otherwise working for, public and private sector organisations to be aware of, take into account and apply relevant law, human rights and equality standards and policy in this area.

Drawing on interdisciplinary expertise within and outside (nationally and internationally) Edinburgh Napier, the Centre seeks to be an interface between theory, practice and policy. To this end, it will particularly identify those areas where research and training will be of use with a view to undertaking this. Moreover, to ensure that any work undertaken by the Centre is directly relevant to practice and policy, an expert advisory group, comprising Edinburgh Napier staff and external specialists, has been appointed and this will meet for the first time early in the New Year.       

Given the considerable interest in and expressed support for the Centre, both at the time it was established and subsequently, it is well placed to meet its objectives.

For further information about the Centre please see its webpage or contact Jill Stavert (ext.4553) if you would like to explore working with it.