Key reforms in the Mental Health Act 2025 include: 

• Stricter detention criteria: The threshold for detention under Sections 2 and 3 will be higher, requiring evidence that "serious harm" may be caused to the patient or others.
• Therapeutic Benefit: Detention and treatment must demonstrate clear therapeutic benefit for the person, ensuring compulsory powers are only used where there is a reasonable prospect of improving the person’s condition.
• Community Treatment Orders (CTOs): Criteria for CTOs will be strengthened to ensure they are used only where necessary and proportionate, with clearer justification required.
• Learning Disabilities & Autism: These will no longer be considered "mental disorders" for detention under Section 3 (treatment) unless accompanied by a co-occurring mental disorder.
• Nominated Person (NP): The "nearest relative" role is replaced by a "nominated person," allowing patients to choose who represents them.
• Advance Choice Documents (ACDs): A statutory duty is introduced for health bodies to support people in creating documents that set out their treatment preferences in advance.
• Reduced detention times: The initial detention period for treatment (Section 3) is reduced from six months to three months.
• Places of safety: Police and prison cells will no longer be used as places of safety for people in mental health crises.
• Prisoner transfers: A 28-day time limit will be introduced to transfer prisoners needing mental health care to hospitals.
• Independent Mental Health Advocates (IMHAs): Access to advocates is expanded, including an "opt-out" system for detained patients.