Professor Hilary Astor (pictured) from the NSW Law Reform Commission this week launched the new edition of the online Mental Health Rights Manual.

The manual is a plain English guide to consumer rights and the law for people with a mental illness and their carers.

The NSW Minister for Mental Health, the Hon. Kevin Humphries MP, also spoke at this week’s launch.

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) co-wrote the manual in partnership with the Mental Health Coordinating Council (MHCC), with financial assistance from the Law and Justice Foundation of NSW.

‘The Mental Health Rights Manual gives consumers and carers easy access to information about their rights.

‘The manual pays particular attention to areas of the law that impact on the day-to-day existence of people living with a mental illness,” said PIAC Chief Executive Officer, Edward Santow.

Photo: Professor Hilary Astor/The University of Sydney