Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA)

IMHA is available for:

People detained under the Mental Health Act or subject to a Community Treatment Order or Guardianship.
Conditionally discharged restricted patients.
Informal inpatients being treated or assessed for a mental health condition.

All Health Boards in Wales provide an IMHA service for qualifying patients in their area. At this time, ASC provides the IMHA service for Aneurin Bevan UHB, Cardiff & Vale UHB, Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB and Swansea Bay UHB.

To find out who provides the IMHA service in the other Health Board areas of Wales, go to our Other Contacts page.

The IMHA will seek to understand that the patients voice is heard by supporting the patient to

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Access information, explore options and engage in development of care plans
Understand and exercise their legal rights
Make complaints
Access relevant records

IMHAs only represent their client and do not act on behalf of any other person, including Health Staff, NHS staff and carers. An IMHA will not make judgements or decisions about the Best Interests of their clients. Advocates do not withhold personal information from their client or share information with professionals without their clients permission.