Ms Fiona Coyle:

We would welcome a recommendation by the committee on the ratification of the optional protocol. Much of what is in the Bill is to be welcomed and brings us more in line with the UNCRPD but we would welcome that recommendation if it came from the committee. The Deputy made an important point on advocacy because Mental Health Reform has been advocating and lobbying for a long time on the right to advocacy services and the current Bill does not provide that right. The need to provide advocacy services has been a long-term policy goal going back to 2006 and A Vision for Change, which acknowledged that the person experiencing a period of emotional distress may not have the resources to advocate for himself or herself. That advocacy should be available to all service users and mental health services as a right. A Vision for Change also recommended moving to a peer support model. There has been some progress and we have seen the Mental Health Engagement and Recovery Office established, but it is fair to say that we are still far away from a model of advocacy in the mental health services that people need and deserve.

There is scope to put that on a statutory footing within this legislation. We have been calling for this for a long time. People need supports to navigate the often complex mental health services and systems. It is fundamental to the work of mental health reform. We hear the need for it on a daily basis from those we work with.