The Mental Health Act 1983 (the act) makes sure people get the right care and support when they are having a mental health crisis and services in the community can no longer help them to keep safe and well. Section 117 of the act deals with aftercare when a person leaves hospital after a period of treatment.

Who is this booklet for?

This booklet is for people who have had an assessment under section 3 of the act and have:

• been detained in a hospital for treatment and would like to leave hospital soon;
• been detained in a hospital under section 3 for treatment and are no longer being detained under the act, but have chosen to stay in hospital voluntarily for a while;
• previously been receiving services in the community under section 117 aftercare arrangements and have now gone back into hospital voluntarily; or
• previously been receiving services in the community under section 117 aftercare arrangements and have now been detained in hospital under section 2 of the act.

This booklet is also for people who have been:

• detained in hospital for treatment under section 37 or section 45A of the act because they were told to go there by a court; or
• moved from prison to hospital for treatment under section 47 or section 48 of the act.