British Mental Health Act

United Kingdom [1959]

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 19, 2026

Quick Summary

The British Mental Health Act of 1959 was a significant piece of legislation that reformed laws concerning mental health and intellectual disability in the United Kingdom. It established that individuals requiring treatment for psychological disorders could receive it in hospitals on the same basis as any other medical condition. This act also placed community mental health services under the jurisdiction of local health authorities, fostering collaboration with hospital and outpatient centers. This marked a shift towards integrating mental health care within the broader healthcare system.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

social service
Administration of services in the United Kingdom and Australia
…ill and mentally handicapped, the British Mental Health Act of 1959 anticipated the trend toward voluntary treatment and voluntary hospital admission, and legislation in 1982 introduced even stricter criteria for the protection of patients’ rights. Since 1983 certain procedures in the admission and discharge of mentally ill patients have belonged…
Read More
…ill and mentally handicapped, the British Mental Health Act of 1959 anticipated the trend toward voluntary treatment and voluntary hospital admission, and legislation in 1982 introduced even stricter criteria for the protection of patients’ rights. Since 1983 certain procedures in the admission and discharge of mentally ill patients have belonged…
Read More