A study has found that people with mental health disorders are more likely to have experienced domestic violence in their life than those with good mental health. Researchers at King’s College London and the University of Bristol studied data contained in 41 previous studies. Overall they found that women who had depressive disorders were approximately… Read More
We are pleased to say that we have maintained our top Excellence rating in relation to our Mental Health work. This fantastic achievement comes as a result of our latest Peer Review, where a sample of our files on Mental Health work was sent to another solicitors for scoring. The rating is 1 to 5,… Read More
Concerns have been raised by a coroner regarding the difficulties mental health patients can face when they come into contact with the police. An inquest in Brixton, London heard that the police used unreasonable force when detaining mental health patient, Sean Rigg. Tragically Mr Rigg later died in police custody. The jury led inquest found… Read More
Swain & Co. solicitors are pleased to announce that Tom Battarbee, Melanie Kingsley and Sarah Langley have recently become members of the Law Society’s Panel for Mental Health Lawyers. They join Adrian Syms, Joanna Dean and Melanie Lidstone-Land, who are also members. This means that our accredited solicitors have satisfied the Law Society that they… Read More
The family of Michael Carroll, a schizophrenic young man with drug dependency, criticise the hospital over his death from a drug overdose for letting him out of the psychiatric ward on his own. The family believe that Michael may still be alive if he had not been given permission to unescorted leave from St. James’… Read More
According to a report published today, mental illness accounts for half of all ill health amongst those of working age and apparently it has a similar impact on life expectancy as smoking. A panel of experts including economists, psychologists, doctors and NHS managers say that the NHS is failing to provide even the basic treatment… Read More
A 59-year-old man was tasered by police when they were faced with a significant level of violence, says Humberside Police. Swain & Co.’s specialist community care solicitors support the Alzheimer’s Society’s concerns that this incident is truly alarming, where a Taser gun has been used on a vulnerable person. This gentleman was suffering from a… Read More
The Lancet study found that one in four mentally ill people have been attacked in the last year (as reported by the BBC on 28th February 2012). The underlying reasons behind this saddening statistic are complex, as is the subject of mental illness. But generally, people with mental illnesses are likely to struggle with personal relationships,… Read More
The Mental Health team at Swain and Co welcome the decision in the landmark case of Rabone v Pennine Care NHS Trust [2010] EWCA Civ 698. In this case, it was decided that the parents of an informal patient should be able to rely upon The Mental Health Act 1983 (as amended), in establishing that… Read More
