• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Bedfordshire
  • Milton Keynes
  • Northamptonshire
  • Awards
  • Knowledge Hub
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
    • Sustainability
    • The Podcast
    • ATB TV
All Things Business

All Things Business

First For Local UK Business News

  • Education
  • Professional Services
    • Legal
    • Finance
    • Recruitment & HR
    • Creative Marketing
  • Property
  • Environment
    • Wellbeing
  • Industry
    • Industry
    • Manufacturing
    • Motors
    • Logistics
    • Technology
  • Events
    • Events
    • Food & Drink
    • Sport
  • News

Mental health in the legal system

Legal, News | November 1, 2021

Kiana-Turner-Bastian-Lloyd-Morris system

As it is becoming more apparent that society needs to provide more support and have a better understanding of an individual’s mental wellbeing, it seems the legal system has some catching up to do!

Most notably in care proceedings, a frequent concern raised by local authorities is the parents’ mental health and how this is impacting upon the children involved. Whilst children’s needs are paramount, questions arise as to whether the parents had sufficient support in the first place – enough to prevent drastic intervention from
social services.

One particular case that stands out was a mother who openly stated she was struggling with her mental health and pleaded for help and assistance to get herself back on track. Unfortunately, the response was for her to either continue as she was, or for the children to be removed from her care. This is obviously an outrageous suggestion. Whilst it must also be considered that local authorities are limited in funding, and are overworked, this does not excuse the fact that parents who desperately seek help, are often met with unsympathetic responses, or even ignored. 

This mother was given Hobson’s Choice. Does she sacrifice her mental health to ensure the children remain in her care; or does she take the chance to focus on herself, at the expense of losing her children? This kind of decision is not made with a light heart. 

Very often, due to the timescales involved in care proceedings, parents do not have sufficient time to begin therapy and make substantial progress to ensure the children are returned home. In a vast number of cases, parents are told, the waiting list for therapy is too long and the children cannot be left in limbo whilst the parent undertakes work; or, alternatively, there is too much trauma, requiring a significant amount of work before the child can be returned to their care.

There is a recurring theme that parents are almost punished for having mental health issues and once deemed as not being able to care for a child at that time, it seems social services almost write them off. It is very clear that the care system is full to the brim with children who need placements, and, therefore, it would not only be morally acceptable, but also logical to give parents with mental health issues the help and support that they desperately need. An individual does not choose to have mental health issues, and yet it seems the system blames people who do. 

If charities, local services and authorities could work together, along with the legal system, to give more help to parents with mental health problems, maybe we could save many more children from being torn away from their family. 

The lessons we teach our children to speak up and seek help is almost blind-sided by the fact that at times there is no real or consistent help available. How can we help parents with mental health issues, when they are being set up to fail in this way?

For more information about Bastian Lloyd Morris visit www.blmsolicitors.co.uk

 

Kiana Turner

Trainee Solicitor

Bastian Lloyd Morris

Milton Keynes

Related stories

  • MPs celebrate city status announcement Milton Keynes
    May 20, 2022

    MPs celebrate city status announcement

    MPs Iain Stewart and Ben Everitt have shared their delight as Milton Keynes was finally officially awarded city status as part of…
  • centre:mk Milton Keynes
    May 17, 2022

    Centre:mk welcomes brand new Ted Baker store to Milton Keynes

    centre:mk are pleased to announce the addition of global lifestyle brand, Ted Baker, to their store line-up in Milton Keynes later this…
  • MK Gateway Milton Keynes
    May 10, 2022

    Taking centre stage at real estate forum

    On 17-19 May, the Socius team will join over 4,000 attendees in Leeds for the annual UKREiiF event, which connects people, places…

Primary Sidebar

Stay up to date on All Things Business

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to receive the latest business news.

Online Edition

Northamptonshire edition, click here
Milton Keynes edition, click here
Bedfordshire edition, click here

Most Read

  • Howes Percival A trio of new partners in East Mids among five senior promotions
  • centre:mk Centre:mk welcomes brand new Ted Baker store to Milton Keynes
  • East Hunsbury Primary School New Headteacher for East Hunsbury Primary School as tributes are paid to retiring Head after 21 years’ service
  • Windfall tax on energy companies: Chancellor and business secretary need to stand their ground against the windfall tax siren calls – MHA comments Windfall tax on energy companies: Chancellor and business secretary need to stand their ground against the windfall tax siren calls – MHA comments
  • Workplace Wellbeing Why It's So Important Workplace Wellbeing: Why it’s so important

Footer

REGIONS

Northamptonshire
Milton Keynes
Bedfordshire
 

COMPANY

About Us
Contact
Awards
Podcast
Knowledge Hub
Sustainability
Request A Copy

Northamptonshire Office

1 Queensbridge, Northampton
NN4 7BF
Tel: 01604 267677

Milton Keynes and Bedfordshire Office

The Pinnacle, 170 Midsummer Boulevard, Milton Keynes,
MK9 1BP
Tel: 01908 030688

London Office

25 Bedford Square
London
WC1B 3HH
Tel: 0208 1760176

Follow us on

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

All Things Business is a publication produced by All Things Management Ltd. Registered in England No. 9590677


Privacy Policy