Mental Health and Related Services Act 1998 Review

About the Exposure Draft Mental Health Bill 2024

NT Health is working to reform mental health legislation in the Territory.

The main legislation in the Territory currently is the Mental Health and Related Services Act 1998 (MHRSA). The MHRSA commenced on 1 February 2000. Quite significant amendments have been made to it since then. However, until 2020 there had been only one major review.

Mental health law is an evolving area and it is important for the Territory to keep up to date with today’s standards and expectations. Principles, objectives, processes and practices that were best practice in the past may no longer be fit for purpose.

NT Health would like to hear what you think about the Exposure Draft Bill to help the Northern Territory Government finalise a Bill to be introduced in the Legislative Assembly.

The Exposure Draft Bill mainly deals with how treatment and care can be provided to people who experience mental illness or mental disorder and need to be kept in hospital to be provided with that treatment and care; or receive compulsory treatment and care for mental illness or mental disorder in the community. The scope of the Exposure Draft Bill is limited to the provision of mental health services delivered primarily through public health services and hospitals.

The Guide to the Exposure Draft Mental Health Bill 2024 is to be read together with the Exposure Draft Mental Health Bill 2024.

Making a submission

NT Health welcomes you to make a comment, submission or enquire about the Exposure Draft Mental Health Bill 2024.

Submit your feedback by 7 June 2024 in the survey below, or alternatively:

• email MHActReview.DoH@nt.gov.au
• post to:

Att: Senior Policy Officer

Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs Branch

PO Box 40596

Casuarina NT 0811

Submissions may be made publicly available and may be published on the NT Health website, unless they are clearly marked as ‘confidential’.

NT Health may use the content of submissions or may publicly quote or refer to submissions, unless a submission is clearly marked ‘confidential’.

For more information...

To learn more about the Exposure Draft Mental Health Bill, watch the video attachment or join us at one of our clinical and/or public presentations across the NT:

Alice Springs

• Monday 20 May 2024, 12.30pm-2pm (clinical consultation) – Alice Springs Hospital
• Tuesday 21 May 2024, 8.30am-5pm (clinical and public consultation) – Central Australian Suicide Prevention Forum, Alice Springs Desert Park
• Wednesday 22 May 202, 4.30pm-6pm (public consultation) – Mecure Alice Springs Resort

Tennant Creek

• Thursday 23 2024, 4.30pm-6pm (clinical and public consultation) –Tennant Creek Hospital Board Room

Katherine

• Tuesday 28 May 2024, 11am-12.30pm (clinical consultation) – Katherine Hospital Training Room
• Tuesday 28 May 2024, 1.30pm-3pm (public consultation) - Big Rivers Child and Family Centre

Darwin

• Wednesday 29 May 2024, 2pm-3.30pm (clinical and public consultation) – virtual via MS TEAMS. Details:

Microsoft Teams Need help?

Join the meeting now Meeting ID: 413 130 502 399 Passcode: JLNPpv

Dial in by phone: +61 8 7918 9720,,138549500# Australia, Darwin Find a local number Phone conference ID: 138 549 500#

Join on a video conferencing device: Tenant key: teams@teams.nt.gov.au Video ID: 135 445 345 7

Nhulunbuy

• Thursday 30 May 2024, 11.30am-1pm (clinical and public consultation) – Nhulunbuy Hospital