Legal Services for the Mentally Ill: A Polemic and a Plea

Abstract

This article maintains that the mentally ill have been neglected by the Canadian legal profession, despite the many needs of this sorely disadvantaged group. The problems faced by the mentally ill are introduced and suggestions are made concerning the appropriate legal response. Issues which both individual lawyers and legal services delivery organizations must confront in dealing with the mentally ill are discussed. Limitations on the overall effectiveness of lawyers in the mental health setting are presented.