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Insight examines the criticisms currently being levelled at the 1969 Mental Health Act.
Programme includes comments from unidentified mental health patients, psychiatrist Helen Bichan; Director of Mental Health Basil James; and John Dawson of the Mental Health Foundation's Task Force, which studied the Mental Health Act and recommended that it be scrapped.
An unidentified man who was suffering from schizophrenia talks about his experience as a 19 year old being locked up with older men.
Another man talks about first seeing a psychiatrist at the age of 13 and being treated at his local public hospital.
Special patients are confined because they have committed a criminal offence - an unidentified man says he agrees he needed to go to hospital but didn't like it.
Auckland lawyer John Dawson talks about his criticisms of the current committal procedures and changes he would like to see. Psychiatrist Helen Bichan says wrongful committal or detention is rare in New Zealand.
Director of Mental Health Basil James says grounds for committal are clearly spelt out.
Patients comment on their experience of forced treatment with medication: some negative and some positive.
Special patient "Para" talks about his experiences and the feeling his opinions weren't being listened to regarding his treatment.
Proposed significant changes to the Act, including a review process, are outlined.
Produced and presented Sue Hannan