The Mental Health Discrimination Bill, which will have its first debate in the House of Commons on 14 September 2012, proposes to end current laws which stigmatise and discriminate against people with mental health problems. The three key areas which the new Bill will seek to abolish are:
• Repeal section 141 of the Mental Health Act 1983 under which an MP automatically loses their seat if they are sectioned under the Mental Health Act for more than six months
• Amend the Juries Act 1974 to remove the blanket ban on “mentally disordered persons” undertaking jury service
• Amend the Companies (Model Articles) Regulations 2008 which states that a person might cease to be a director of a public or private company “by reason of their mental health”

MHNE firmly believes it is time to end stigmatising laws such as these, and actively supports Mind, Rethink and the Royal College of Psychiatrists in their national campaign which is seeking to ensure that all MPs attend this important first debate on 14 September 2012.
MHNE urges its members and supporters to also show their support by asking their MP to attend this debate and support the Bill as it makes its passage through Parliament. 

Please spend five minutes of your time to either tweet or email your MP now and help end this archaic legislation, and make a real difference to the lives of so many people with mental health problems who are being wrongly discriminated against through no fault of their own.