Law

Mental Health Act 1959

United Kingdom · statute

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Open at the publisher →

In force since 2009-10-01, as the publisher states.

Copy read on 2026-11-08. The page it was read from

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.

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Contents: 67 provisions
  1. Title and introductory text
  2. 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  3. 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  4. 8 Functions of welfare authorities.
  5. 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  6. 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  7. 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  8. 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  9. 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  10. 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  11. 23
  12. 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  13. 25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  14. 36 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  15. 37 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  16. 44 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  17. 45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  18. 60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  19. 61 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  20. 62 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  21. 69 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  22. 70 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  23. 77 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  24. 79 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  25. 80 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  26. 81 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  27. 82 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  28. 85 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  29. 87 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  30. 89 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  31. 91 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  32. 92 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  33. 97 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  34. 99 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  35. 100 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  36. 120 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  37. 121 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  38. 122 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  39. 125 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  40. 127 Amendment of Sexual Offences Act, 1956.
  41. 128 Sexual intercourse with patients.
  42. 129 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  43. 131 Prosecutions by local authorities.
  44. 132 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  45. 134 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  46. 135 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  47. 139 Supplemental
  48. 142 Default powers of Minister.
  49. 143 Inquiries.
  50. 144 Expenses.
  51. 145 General provisions as to regulations, orders and rules.
  52. 146 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  53. 147 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  54. 149 Minor and consequential amendments and repeals.
  55. 150 Application to Scotland.
  56. 151 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  57. 152 Application to Northern Ireland.
  58. 153 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  59. 154 Short title and application to Scilly Isles.
  60. FIRST SCHEDULE . . .
  61. SECOND SCHEDULE . . .
  62. THIRD SCHEDULE . . .
  63. FOURTH SCHEDULE . . .
  64. FIFTH SCHEDULE . . .
  65. SIXTH SCHEDULE Transitional Provisions
  66. Seventh Schedule MINOR AND CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS
  67. EIGHTH SCHEDULE

Proposed changes to this act

No one has proposed a change to this act yet.

67 provisions

Title and introductory text

Mental Health Act 1959 1959 c. 72 An Act to repeal the Lunacy and Mental Treatment Acts 1890 to 1930, and the Mental Deficiency Acts 1913 to 1938, and to make fresh provision with respect to the treatment and care of mentally disordered persons and with respect to their property and affairs; and for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid. [29th July 1959]

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8 Functions of welfare authorities.

(1) For the purposes of subsection (8) of section twenty-one of the National Assistance Act 1948 (which restricts the duties of local authorities in respect of the provision of accommodation under that section by reference to the provision authorised or required to be made under other enactments) no account shall be taken of the provision authorised or required to be made by local social services authorities under paragraph 2 of Schedule 8 to the National Health Service Act 1977 , with respect to residential accommodation for persons who are or have been suffering from mental disorder. (2) The persons referred to in subsection (1) of section twenty-nine of the said Act of 1948 (which section enables local authorities to make arrangements for promoting the welfare of blind persons and other disabled persons described in the said subsection (1)) shall include mentally disordered persons of any description; and for the purposes of subsection (6) of that section (which, among other things, excludes from that section the provision of accommodation or services required to be provided under the National Health Service Act 1946), no account shall be taken of the provisions of Schedule 20 to the National Health Service Act 2006 or Schedule 15 to the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006, with respect to the provision of accommodation or services for such persons. (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (4) Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring a local authority to make provision for the same purposes both under . . . Part III of the National Assistance Act 1948 and under Schedule 20 to the National Health Service Act 2006 or Schedule 15 to the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006.

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127 Amendment of Sexual Offences Act, 1956.

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