Protecting rights during involuntary treatment
People receiving involuntary treatment for mental illness may experience significant restrictions on their rights and freedoms.
Strong safeguards, oversight and accountability help make sure treatment respects people’s human rights, dignity and recovery.
Why least restrictive approaches to care matter
Queensland's mental health legislation aims to balance the need for treatment and care with the protection of individual rights.
Supporting least restrictive approaches to care remains an important goal across Queensland's mental health system.
Current research
We’re funding research into involuntary treatment in Queensland and its impact on policy, practice and human rights.
The research is led by Professor Neeraj Gill.
The final stage of the research is underway, led by a researcher with lived-living expertise at Griffith University. It seeks input from people with lived-living experience of involuntary treatment.
Previous research
In 2019, we funded research exploring the human rights protections provided under the Mental Health Act 2016.
The Human rights protection frameworks for people being treated involuntarily for a mental illness: overview outlines the project and its findings.
The study found that the legislation:
- strengthened human rights protections
- improved alignment with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The Human rights protection frameworks for people being treated involuntarily for a mental illness: study findings presents the research findings.
The Queensland Mental Health Act and human rights project: research summary summarises the key findings and implications.
The Human rights protection frameworks for people being treated involuntarily for a mental illness: literature review examines the evidence that informed the research.