Founder's Day 2021 | Mental Health, Human Rights and the Law

Mental health, human rights and the law: Illustration showing healthcare professionals and the general public looking towards Lady Justice, the symbol of justice and the law

The annual Founder's Day conference from St Patrick's Mental Health Services (SPMHS) took place on 3 December 2021.

Founder’s Day is held to recognise and continue the legacy of our founder, Jonathan Swift, a pioneer in mental healthcare.

In 2021, the Founder’s Day conference explored the theme of Mental Health, Human Rights and the Law, and focused on national mental health legislation and related developments, and the broader human rights context.

Conference topics

Topics that the conference addressed include:

the proposed reform of the Mental Health Act 2001 and its significance for service providers, healthcare professionals, service users, their families and supporters, and other key stakeholders
progress on the implementation of the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act and its relevance to the rights of people experiencing mental health difficulties
understanding the role and importance of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) from a mental health perspective.

The conference aimed to share expert knowledge in these areas by bringing together varied perspectives, such as:

legal and academic expertise
mental healthcare professionals
service user and carer representatives
regulatory and advocacy bodies.

Speakers

Mary Butler TD, Minister for Mental Health and Older People, delivered an address at the conference and our keynote speaker was Gareth Owen, Reader in Mental Health, Ethics and Law, King’s College London/Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist at the South London Maudsley NHS Foundation. We were also joined by:

Fiona Coyle, Chief Executive, Mental Health Reform
John Farrelly, Chief Executive, Mental Health Commission
Áine Flynn, Director of the Decision Support Service
Eilionóir Flynn, Established Chair in Law and Director of the Centre for Disability Law and Policy, National University of Ireland, Galway
Áine Hynes, Partner Solicitor at St John’s Solicitors Dublin
Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin and Consultant Psychiatrist at Tallaght University Hospital
Michael Ryan, Head of Mental Health Engagement and Recovery and member of the National Mental Health service, Health Service Executive (HSE)
Sushil Teji, family member and carer, a volunteer with HSE Mental Health Engagement and Recovery and Board member for Mental Health Ireland
Dr William Flannery, President of the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland (CPI)
Dr Mike Scully, Consultant Psychiatrist and Chair of the Law Committee,(CPI)