How a vulnerable consumer can get the right legal help

Mental health – legal help

Getting the right help with a legal need can make a huge difference for people with mental health problems.

Legal advice can be useful when dealing with everyday problems that can affect anyone, such as problems with housing, getting divorced or employment disputes.

There may be circumstances when people need help related to their mental health.

An example is preparing for a time when they are no longer able to make decisions by themselves (known as mental capacity).

Another example is agreeing to be taken into a mental health unit to be treated (also called ‘being sectioned’).

Here are tips for getting the best experience when using legal services for people with mental health issues.

Dementia – legal help

Getting the right help with a legal need can make a huge difference for people with dementia.

For example, people with dementia often use legal services to make their will or arrange a lasting power of attorney.

Many people feel unsure or worried about using legal services. This is very understandable, when dementia can affect your memory and how you speak, feel, behave and plan things.

Here are tips for getting the best experience when using legal services for people with dementia.