Mental Health Act 1983: reference guide This revised reference guide gives information and advice on how the 1983 Mental Health Act operates. - Last update 26 March 2015 - in this re-published version images of the paintings not included. It is a reference source for people who want to understand the main provisions of the Mental Health Act 1983 and the regulations under the Act, as amended at 1 April 2015, including by the Mental Health Act 2007, Health and Social Care Acts 2008 and 2012 and Care Act 2014. The revised reference guide complements the revised Mental Health Act Code of Practice, with the Code giving guidance on how the Act should be applied. The guide is not a definitive statement of law, nor a substitute for consulting the Act itself or taking legal advice in relation to the Act.