title: Implementing the Mental Health Act 2007 in British general practice: Lessons from Ireland.
abstract: Changes in mental health legislation (e.g. Mental Health Act 2007 in England and Wales, Mental Health Act 2001 in Ireland) have generally improved adherence to international human rights standards, but also present challenges to primary care providers. When mental health legislation was substantially reformed in Ireland, 62.9% of general practitioners (GPs) felt the new legislation was not user-friendly. Majorities of GPs who felt the legislation affected their practice reported increased workloads (85%) and various other difficulties (53%). GPs who had received training about the legislation were more likely to find it user-friendly (43% versus 30.9%), and informal training (e.g. from colleagues) was just as likely as formal training to be associated with a GP finding it user-friendly. With similar changes to mental health legislation being introduced in England and Wales, it is significant that informal training is just as good as formal training in helping GPs work with new mental health legislation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Adult Psychiatry, University College Dublin, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, 62/63 Eccles Street, Dublin 7, Ireland. farazjabbar@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Faraz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jabbar
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Doherty
authors.forename: Muniba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aziz
authors.forename: Brendan D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Kelly
mesh_terms: D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D004739:England; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005260:Female; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006806:Human Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012926:Social Control, Formal; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014852:Wales