Last Change:
10/19/2026
Mental Health Act, 2019
Original names of the law: Mental Health Act, 2019
Year: 2019
Type: Domestic law
Rights Category: Health
Description
An Act to provide for the promotion and protection of the rights of persons with mental illness, mental disorder, mental impairment or mental disability; to establish the National Mental Health Council and provide for its functions; provide for mental health services in correctional facilities; give effect to certain provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Principles for the protection of persons with mental illness and the improvement of mental care General Assembly Resolution 46/119 of 17th December, 1991 and other international human rights instruments to which Zambia is a State Party; repeal the Mental Disorders Act, 1949; and provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.
Selected provisions
6. (1)
A person shall not, without the consent, in writing, given by or on behalf of the Council, publish or disclose to an unauthorised person, otherwise than in the course of that person’s duties, the contents of a document, communication or information which relates to, or which has come to the knowledge of that person in the course of that person’s duties under this Act.
(2)
A person who contravenes subparagraph (1) commits an offence and is liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding two hundred thousand penalty units or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or to both.
(3)
A person who, having any information which to the knowledge of that person has been published or disclosed in contravention of subparagraph (1), unlawfully publishes or communicates the information to another person commits an offence and is liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding two hundred thousand penalty units or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or to both.
10. (1)
The Council shall cause to be kept proper books of accounts and other records relating to its accounts.
(2)
The accounts of the Council shall be audited annually by an external auditor appointed by the Auditor-General.
(3)
The external auditor’s fees shall be paid by the Council.
15. (1)
A mental health facility shall put in place appropriate measures to ensure—
(a)
availability of mental health services at all levels of mental health care;
(b)
adequate financial and geographical accessibility;
(c)
provision of services that meet prescribed minimum standards; and
(d)
access to psychiatric medication.
(3)
Mental health services shall—
(a)
be integrated within the general health services;
(b)
be provided in specialised public and private health facilities;
(c)
be provided indesignated health facilities for forensic mental patients;
(d)
promote in mental patient and out mental patient services at community level;
(e)
promote the rights and interests of mental patients;
(f)
promote and improve the mental health status of the population; and
(g)
provide primary health care.