Mind seeks mental health discrimination test cases to shape law

Mind is looking to take on test cases involving discrimination against people with mental health problems in order to shape future law.

The mental health charity wants to hear about cases from law firms who cannot pursue them, which would then be handled by its in-house team of lawyers and external barristers.

It is after cases in the following areas:-

• Where a person has experienced unfair dismissal, constructive dismissal or redundancy on grounds of mental health.
• Where primary care trusts have cut mental health treatments or services unreasonably or without consultation.
• Where PCTs have inappropriately used information about someone’s mental health, retained under the Data Protection Act.
• Where someone has received less favourable treatment in the provision of a service in comparison with someone not experiencing mental health problems.
• Where someone has been refused insurance cover on the grounds of their mental health.
• Where a person has been discriminated against because of their association with a disabled person.

Mind’s head of legal, Tracy Jenkins, said: “People with mental health problems face widespread discrimination on a daily basis, from stigma in their communities to discrimination in their jobs and dealings with public services. Mind is actively seeking mental health cases from law firms who are unable to pursue them, so that discrimination on mental health grounds will not go unchallenged.”

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