Lesson 4: 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?   Maybe stories like the one that Karen Evans tells in this article are the reason advocates have worked hard to protect the rights of individuals living with mental illness.

Click HERE to view a Timeline of Disability Rights

Click HERE to view a handout distributed by the Disability Rights Center


Assessment

Lesson 4 Quiz

  1. Write a brief paragraph reflecting why it is important for consumers to understand their rights.
  2. Write a brief paragraph reflecting why it is important for CMs to understand their clients' rights.