The New Mental Health Act: Rights of Carers - information for people who care for a service user

2 Some terms used in this guide

The Act: The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.

CPN: Community Psychiatric Nurse.

Independent advocate: Under the Act anyone with a mental disorder has the right to access an independent advocate. An independent advocate is able to give support and help to enable a person to express their own views about their care and treatment.

Mental disorder: This is a term used in the Act which covers mental illness (including dementia), a learning disability or a personality disorder.

Mental Health Tribunal: The Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland was set up by the Act to make decisions about the compulsory care and treatment of people with mental disorder.

Named person: this is someone who will look after the person's interests if he or she has to be treated under the Act.

Place of safety: this is a place where someone might be taken in certain circumstances if they need to be assessed and arrangements made for their care. It might be a hospital, care home, or other suitable place. As a last resort, if no other place is available, it might be a police station.