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Who we are

The Mental Welfare Commission is an independent organisation that works to safeguard the rights and welfare of everyone with a mental illness, learning disability or other mental disorder.  Our duties are set out in mental health and incapacity law.

We are made up of people who have an understanding and experience of mental illness and learning disability. Some of us have wokred in healthcare, social care or the law.  Some of us are carers or have used mental health and learning disability services ourselves.

We believe that everyone with a mental illness, learning disability or other mental disorder should

  • Be treated with dignity and respect
  • Have the right to treatment that is allowed by law and fully meets professional standards
  • Have the right to live free from abuse, neglect or discrimination
  • Get the care and treatment that best suits his or her needs
  • Be enabled  to lead as fulfilling a life as possible

What we do

We find out whether individual treatment is in line with the law and practices we know work well.

Challenge those who provide servicers for people with a mental illness or learning disability to make sure they provide the highest standards of care.

We provide advice, information and guidance about how services and policies are developed

We gather information about how mental health and incapacity laws are being applied and promote best practice in their use.