Reforming the mental health act 7 this white paper marks the next step on this journey we urge you to take part in the consultation that will take place over the next three months to help shape. In 2017 the government asked for an independent review of the mental health act 1983 reforming the mental health act print ready front cover ref isbn 978 1 5286 2324 7 . Reforming the mental health act white paper 130121 the long awaited response to the wessely mental health act review published in december 2018 was released on 13th january 2021 theres much to like in it in fact it appears that a lot of the recommendations in the review of the mha 1983 have been addressed and incorporated into the . This white paper details how we will now underpin these improvements in mental health services with reforms to mental health laws the current 1983 mental health act is largely based on a review of mental health legislation which took place in the 1950s since then the way services are provided has dramatically changed