INDEPENDENT MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATES (IMHAs)
Information for Patients, Relatives and Carers
An Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA) is a specific type of mental
health advocate provided to qualifying patients under the revised Mental Health
Act 2007.
Who is it for?
You are entitled to an IMHA if you are detained or ‘sectioned’ under the Mental Health Act.
They can work with you if you are conditionally discharged under Guardianship or Supervised
Community Treatment.
If you are an ‘informal’ patient, you will also be able to get support from an IMHA if you are
being considered for serious treatment, such as neurosurgery or Electroconvulsive Therapy
(ECT) for anyone under 18.
What is an IMHA?
An IMHA is a trained and experienced advocate who can work with you around your care and
treatment under the Mental Health Act.
An IMHA is independent which means they are separate from your medical and social care
teams and work for a different organisation.
An IMHA can work with you to:

Help you understand the Mental Health Act and the section you are on

Give you information to understand your rights and how to exercise them

Help you to understand the treatment and care

Support you to be more involved in the decisions about your care and treatment

Support and help represent your views at ward rounds, tribunals and other meetings
An IMHA will not tell you what he or she thinks is right for you, but help you to decide what you
want to do. They will only act on your instructions and will not judge you.
How will an IMHA work with you?
An IMHA is free so you do not have to pay for the service. It is confidential so your discussions
and information will only be shared with medical and social care staff if you ask for it to be
shared or if there is a very good reason to do so. An IMHA will share with you any information
they get about you. An IMHA does not affect your right to a solicitor.
NHS Hampshire IMHA Patient Leaflet Apl 11 updated Sept 11
Location of qualifying patient and organisation contact details:
North and North East LIT area


Basingstoke Advocacy Service (BAS)
Hampshire Advocacy Regional Group (HARG)
West LIT area



Solent Mind
HARG
Andover Advocacy Alliance (AAA)
South East LIT area


Havant & East Hants Mind
HARG
Andover Advocacy Alliance
Havant & East Hants Mind
Tel: 01264 336380 Fax: 01264 353010
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 02392 498916 or 01329 822479
Fax: 02392 481886
Email: [email protected]
Basingstoke Advocacy Scheme
Solent Mind
Tel: 01256 328080 Fax: 01256 474020
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 02380 837369 Fax: 02380 208954
Email: [email protected]
Hampshire Advocacy Regional Group
Tel: 02380 715679 Fax: 02380 234774
Email: [email protected]
How do I contact the IMHA Service?
You can ask for an IMHA by contacting the service directly or ask to be referred by anyone
including medical staff, social care staff, your nearest relative or family. Please see the list
above which gives you the contact details of IMHA providers in each area. A member of staff
can tell you which area you are in if required.
NHS Hampshire IMHA Patient Leaflet Apl 11 updated Sept 11