The Commission is an independent statutory body which was established in April 2002. The Commission’s main functions are to promote, encourage and foster high standards and good practices in the delivery of mental health services and to protect the interests of patients who are involuntarily admitted and detained (Section 33(1), Mental Health Act 2001). Our remit includes the broad spectrum of mental health services including general adult mental health services, as well as mental health services for children and adolescents, older people, people with intellectual disabilities and forensic mental health services.

The Strategic priorities of the Mental Health Commission for 2016 - 2018 are;
• Promoting the continuous improvement and reform of mental health services and standards
• Fostering an integrated person-centred approach for service users
• Encouraging the development of future focused services
• Developing our people, processes and systems internally