Mental health summary

Summary:

Mental health conditions are very common and they can affect a person’s thinking, feeling and behaviour. Some people with mental health problems may need additional support with daily living.
A mental health condition is a disability if it has a long term and adverse effect on a person's day to day activities. In this case, a person's condition may be considered a disability under the Equality Act 2010.
Mental health conditions may be short term or long term; and a person's condition can fluctuate.
Mental health conditions are more common in the offending population than the general population.
Stress can make an existing mental health condition and symptoms worse.
It can be very difficult to know if someone has a mental health condition, but there are some signs to look out for.

Further reading:

A common sense approach to working with defendants and offenders with mental health problems, Together for Mental Wellbeing (2010)
A common sense approach to working with women with health and wellbeing needs in the criminal justice system, Together for Mental Wellbeing (2013)
Equal Treatment Bench Book Judicial College (2013). Chapter 7, page 97: Mental disabilities, learning difficulties and mental capacity.
Rethink Mental Illness produce information factsheets on mental health conditions, how to access treatment and other topics. These can be accessed from www.rethink.org
Former Members of the Armed Forces and the Criminal Justice System Stephen Phillips QC MP (2014)
Combat Stress is the UK's leading veterans mental health charity an can provide further information on veterans mental health: www.combatstress.org.uk
Mental health and the courts Mind (2010)

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