The interface between the law and the mental health disciplines raises fundamental questions concerning our very human nature. Concepts such as autonomy, responsibility, decision making capacity and risk are central and have come under increasing scrutiny in the literature. While each discipline approaches the debate from its own perspective and understanding of the world, increasingly connections have been made and relationships recognised. At a theoretical level this has led to a growing and vibrant literature. At the level of practice the close interaction between law and psychiatry, which had been evident across the centuries, has become increasingly significant and sensitive. In the context of evolving societal attitudes to mental ill health and disability and the expanding influence of international human rights norms the role of the law is becoming both more complex and more contentious. Building on the experience gained from working across our disciplinary boundaries we have developed a strongly interdisciplinary programme, designed to investigate the interface between mental health, law and ethics at a theoretical level and to engage directly with the dilemmas and experience of illness encountered in practice. The course will expand students’ understanding, both within and beyond their own disciplines, and will provide them with the skills necessary to analyse and critique current law, practice and policy in relation to mental health.

Employers value interdisciplinary skills and graduates of MHEL will be able to use the degree for many different career opportunities. These include: Leadership roles in relevant policy-related areas including positions in mental health advocacy groups nationally and internationally, professional regulatory organisations and governmental departments in UK and overseas; For clinical practitioners, evidence of professional development in order to obtain promotion, or to take their career in a more specialist direction in clinical management, education or research; For legal practitioners, opportunities for specialisation in mental health and mental capacity law; A stepping stone to a career in clinical psychology or other clinical roles within the NHS or other healthcare settings; Possibilities to move into the private sector, into areas such as scientific publishing, human resources, occupational health, management consultancy or roles; A stepping stone to purse doctoral-level research (PhD or MD(Res)), including at King's; Research students may find academic positions in law schools, health schools and other research centres within a range of humanities departments.