AMHP Procedure

The Mental Health Act is subject to planned reform following the Independent Review of the 1983 Act. Legislative changes will be introduced through the Mental Health Act 2025, which received Royal Assent and became law on 18 December 2025. The new reforms aim to reduce the use of detention, provide more sustainable pathways to recovery, and promote a more holistic, person-centred approach to mental health prevention and treatment. They are also intended to address systemic inequalities within the mental health system.

Implementation will be gradual and this procedure will be updated as changes are introduced. Current expectations indicate that the reforms will be phased in over eight to ten years, although precise timelines have not yet been confirmed. Therefore, at present there are no changes to the Mental Health Act 1983 in practical application, as the majority of reforms are not yet in force. Initial priorities will include developing a new Code of Practice and the necessary secondary legislation, followed by workforce training to support implementation.

See the tri.x blog The Mental Health Act 2025 for more information on the Act and of its latest implementation developments.