Lesson 2: Maine Laws regarding Mental Health Recipients' Rights

Attention

Here are a few short clips representing Mental Health consumers
To view this video on YouTube click HERE

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this lesson's material, students will be able to:

• Describe Maine's laws regarding mental health recipient's rights
  
• Identify reasons why consumers of mental health services need to have information on their rights readily available to them

Teaching

Read through the Maine "Rights of Recipients" document...utilize the PDF link to download the entire document.

As you review Part A Section III, Basic Rights, take note of the rights and limitations that are specified.  Respect, dignity and courtesy are all specified rights for the recipients of Mental Health Services.  Discrimination is forbidden.  The rules go further to ensure that recipients have the right to refuse all or some treatments / services except where involuntary commitment is involved.  Additional rights for service exist for recipients with long term mental illness.  Where resources are available, recipients have a right to coordinated services and resources and a natural support system.

Think about the real life application of these rules.  Can you imagine how and why these rules came into place?  Do you think they are well situated to protect mental health recipients today?   

Click HERE to view a Timeline of Disability Rights

Click HERE to view a handout from the presentation by the Disability Rights Center

To contact the Kristina LaChance directly, her email is klachance@drcme.org

Assessment

Lesson 2 Quiz

1. Reflect on the presentation from the Disabilty Rights Center. Reflect on anything that you may have found interesting or surprising.
2. Why do you think that consumers need to have their rights readily available to them?