Today the Mental Health (Use of Force) Bill has received Royal Assent in Parliament, eight years after the death of Seni Lewis. Known as Seni’s Law, the Bill will increase protections and oversight on use of force in mental health settings.
Mental Health & Others
New ‘Seni Lewis Award’ to recognise collaborative work between police and health service
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), in partnership with South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM), have announced the new ‘Seni Lewis Award’ in memory of Mr Lewis and to mark his death in 2010.
Winning justice for David Dungay
26-year-old Aboriginal man David Dungay jnr died on December 29, 2015 after pleading for his life in the mental health wing of Sydney’s Long Bay jail. He suffered a cardiac arrest when he was pinned down.
Delay in Sydney jail death inquest prolongs family’s ‘agonizing wait’
For almost three years, the family of an Indigenous Australian man who died in a Sydney prison complex after being pinned down by correctional officers has waited for answers. Their wait will continue.
Harrowing video footage shows death in custody of Aboriginal man
Shocking video footage of the death in custody of an Indigenous Australian man has been aired in court for the first time, depicting five officers restraining a man who said 12 times that he could not breathe.
The keyring that saves lives
At the age of 17 I knew there was something that had changed about my Auntie. The things she was saying didn’t make sense; It’s as if overnight she had suddenly started to see the world very differently to how she used to.
Seni’s law: House of Commons approve mental health unit reforms
A new law which ensures better monitoring of the use of force against patients in mental health units has been approved by MPs. “Seni’s law” was inspired by Olaseni Lewis who died in 2010 soon after being restrained by 11 police officers.
Mental health triage scheme recognised internationally
A specialist emergency unit which offers immediate assessments to suspected mental health sufferers in the West Midlands has been recognised internationally – Counterparts from Australia visited the region to learn about best practice.
