The application of mental health and mental capacity laws to suicide risk
Abstract
In this article, I explore how the mental health and mental capacity laws in England and Wales can be used for suicide prevention. I criticise the use of compulsion for persons diagnosed with a mental disorder who nonetheless retain decision-making capacity and argue for a greater reliance upon capacity as a distinguisher between autonomous decision-making about the end of life and the risk to life posed by symptoms of mental illness. The label of 'suicide' is also criticised as an outdated legal notion carrying pejorative meaning. Although focused on the law in England and Wales, the arguments apply much more broadly to all jurisdictions seeking to reconcile the demands of respect for life and respect for autonomy.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Healthcare Decision-Making and Restraints
Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues
Mental Health and Patient Involvement
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Volume
- 43
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 1–5
- Publication date
- 13 January 2026
- Language
- EN