UK - The Mental Health Bill 2025 has officially received Royal Assent

UK - The Mental Health Bill 2025 has officially received Royal Assent A historic reform modernising the outdated 1983 Mental Health Act and placing voice, dignity, and lived experience at the heart of mental health care. For decades, people detained under the Act, have faced systemic inequalities and limited say in their treatment. The new law changes that by introducing statutory care and treatment plans, stronger patient rights, and meaningful family involvement. A crucial aspect of this progress comes from the leadership of lived experience experts like Steve Gilbert OBE, Vice-Chair of the Mental Health Act Review, whose personal experience and advocacy ensured that the reform reflects the realities of those most affected. His call for dignity, autonomy, and racial equity has directly shaped the new legislation. This milestone shows what can happen when policymakers, professionals, and people with firsthand experience work together. Embedding experiential expertise not as a token voice, but as a driving force for systemic change.