The Making of the Mental Health Act, 1957–60

Abstract

The publication in May 1957 of the Report of the Royal Commission on the Law Relating to Mental Illness and Mental Deficiency brought the issue of the reform of mental health policy under public scrutiny. The Times devoted a leading article to the Report, and welcomed the view that the care of the mentally disordered need not be provided in specialist hospitals which were geographically and socially isolated. In addition, the leader writer went on to argue that the work of the hospitals was hampered by the presence of large numbers of chronic patients who were suitable candidates for welfare hostels. The article did not comment on the question of integration or the relationship between central and local government. It concluded that the proposals of the Royal Commission appeared to be ‘a fair balance between protection of the individual and protection of fellow citizens’.¹ This piece initiated a short correspondence on mental health policy which included a letter from the Labour MP Christopher Mayhew. Mayhew broadly welcomed the Percy Report, but argued that there were issues to be considered which lay outside the scope of the Royal Commission.² He noted in particular the shortage of research proposals on mental health, and the poor physical state of the mental hospitals which were to continue to operate under the new law.