Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether powers exist to compel an individual to accept mental health treatment in the community.

An individual cannot be compelled to have treatment in the community if they do not want it.

For individuals who have been detained under the Mental Health Act 1983, section 17A of the Act makes provision for Community Treatment Orders. This allows conditions to be placed on an individual when in the community, following detention under s3 or s37 of the Mental Health Act. If conditions are not followed, and an individual’s mental health declines, they can be recalled back to hospital for treatment.