Webinar: Nearest Relatives Resources – Empowering carers in the mental health system 

Abstract

This session will outline research findings on the experiences of Nearest Relatives and Approved Mental Health Professionals of the Mental Health Act and share details of a new and free online resource for Nearest Relatives about their role in the Act. The research identified the emotional challenges faced by carers/family members when they are a Nearest Relative, and the lack of information and support that is available to them about the role. The research led to a UKRI funded project, working with Nearest Relatives and professionals to co-create a website with online resources about the role, including tools and leaflets, as well as sources of support and self care. The website will be updated for the Nominated Person role when the new Mental Health Act comes into effect in a few years. We will consider the main legal changes in this area and how the resources will be updated to reflect them.

Biographies

Professor Judy Laing, University of Bristol Law School 

Judy teaches and researches mental health law and policy at the University of Bristol, with a particular focus on the intersection between mental health law and human rights. She has a long standing interest in this field and has published extensively on aspects of mental health law in leading journals, books and edited collections.  She carried out a Parliamentary academic fellowship from 2020-2022 in the House of Common Library and produced briefings on mental health law reform, mental health policy and the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Act 2019. She is leading on the Nearest Relative Resources project and working alongside an inter- disciplinary team, including Nearest Relatives, Mind, Rethink Mental Illness,  AMHP leads from Bristol City Council, social work academics and advisers.

Dr Kev Stone is an Associate Dean at the University of South Wales, and Visiting Professor of Social Work and Mental Health Law at the Leeds Beckett University. His research focuses upon the sociolegal impact on those impacted by mental health legislation regionally, nationally and internationally. He is a registered Social Worker and practicing Approved Mental Health Professional. He is an author, keynote speaker and delivers specialist professional education. 

Dr. Jeremy Dixon is a Reader in Social Work at the Centre for Adult Social Care Research (CARE) at Cardiff University. His research focusses on social work, mental health, the sociology of risk and uncertainty, end-of-life care and adult safeguarding. He is currently the deputy director of the Centre for Adult Social Care Research and President of the International Sociological Association’s Research Committee on the Sociology of Mental Health and Illness. He is also a registered social worker.