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Mental Health Law Project

The Mental Health Law Project (MHLP) is appointed by the Superior Court to represent Vermonters in involuntary mental health treatment and/or medication cases, both in hospitals and in outpatient settings, to ensure that their rights and liberty are protected.

We also represent the rights and interests of people with mental health problems who are potentially subject to mental health statutes and regulations under consideration by the legislature. We advocate on their behalf when the Department of Mental Health decides important issues affecting their rights or the structure of the involuntary mental health system.

More information
Mental health services page of the VTLawHelp.org website
Sean, a VLA mental health lawyer

VLA Staff Stories

Meet Sean, a VLA mental health lawyer

Sean is on the team that helps protect the rights of Vermonters with mental health challenges like Helene.

When Helene was committed to the hospital, the hospital sought approval to medicate her involuntarily — even though Helene was already accepting prescribed medications after consultation with her psychiatrist.

The state also asked the court to order medications that were not in the state’s application for involuntary medication. And they were not disclosed to Helene’s lawyer until the night before the hearing.

We successfully represented Helene, convincing the court to deny the hospital’s request because she was already accepting medications voluntarily.

To protect anonymity and confidentiality, some names and details in these stories have been changed.

More VLA Staff Stories