Independent mental health advocacy

Independent mental health advocacy, IMHA, is advocacy for someone being treated, possibly involuntarily, for a mental disorder provided by someone not involved in the treatment. IMHA can help a service user understand and exercise their rights and ensure their views and preferences are expressed.^[1] Advocacy seeks to address unequal power relations between mental health professionals and those using their services.^[2]^: 281 Those who provide such advocacy are called Independent mental health advocates, IMHA.

IMHA complement the best interest advocacy where others make decisions based on what they think is in a service user, such as a psychiatric inpatient, best interest with representational advocacy which provides support for the patients autonomy, their ability to have a role in decisions made about them.^[3]^: 8 IMHA can help support testimonial justice, allowing a service users voice to be heard; and hermeneutic justice, having one's understanding taken in account in decision making.^[2]^: 289

In some regions, psychiatric services are required to provide access to IMHA to all detained patients or those who are subject to community treatment orders.^[4]

^ Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ ^a ^b Ridley, Julie; Newbigging, Karen; Street, Cathy (2018-11-07). "Mental health advocacy outcomes from service user perspectives". Mental Health Review Journal. 23 (4): 280–292. doi:10.1108/MHRJ-10-2017-0049. ISSN 1361-9322. S2CID 80903364.
^ Bennetts, Wanda; Maylea, Christopher; McKenna, Brian; Makregiorgos, Helen (2018-10-25). "The 'Tricky Dance' of Advocacy: A study of non-legal Mental Health Advocacy". International Journal of Mental Health and Capacity Law. 2018 (24): 12. doi:10.19164/ijmhcl.v2018i24.746. hdl:10292/13240. ISSN 2056-3922. S2CID 149725402.
^ Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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[:0-2] Ridley, Julie; Newbigging, Karen; Street, Cathy (2018-11-07). "Mental health advocacy outcomes from service user perspectives". Mental Health Review Journal. 23 (4): 280–292. doi:10.1108/MHRJ-10-2017-0049. ISSN 1361-9322. S2CID 80903364.

[3] Bennetts, Wanda; Maylea, Christopher; McKenna, Brian; Makregiorgos, Helen (2018-10-25). "The 'Tricky Dance' of Advocacy: A study of non-legal Mental Health Advocacy". International Journal of Mental Health and Capacity Law. 2018 (24): 12. doi:10.19164/ijmhcl.v2018i24.746. hdl:10292/13240. ISSN 2056-3922. S2CID 149725402.

[:2-4] Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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