3. Mental Health Flashcards
What is a mental disorder?
Means in an abnormal state of mind (whether of a continuous or intermittent nature), characterised by delusions or disorders of mood or perception or volition or cognition of such a degree that it
- Poses a serious danger to the health or safety of that person or of others or
- Seriously diminishes the capacity of that person to take care themself
When is force justified under the direction from DAO?
Use force only if
- It is justified and
- The DAO gives you clear instructions to do so
- The patient would be likely to suffer harm or cause harm to other people or damage property if force is not applied and
- The force used is necessary and proportionate with the circumstances
What is a public place?
Any aircraft hovercraft ship or ferry or vessel train or vehicle which is in a public place
S38 Mental Health Act 1992
- assistance when person may need assessment
DAO who receives the request must investigate the matter to satisfy themselves
- That the concern expressed by the maker is genuine and
-RGTB that the person to whom the request relates may be suffering from a mental disorder and
- Decide on reasonable grounds whether or not the person needs to have an examination urgently and the persons own interest or interest of another person.
- If they need an examination but not urgent, They must arrange for a mental health practitioner to examine them with the view to issuing a certificate 8B4B and an assessment examination under s9.
- if the DAO decides a person needs to urgently have an examination they must
- Try to get a mental health practitioner to come and examine them with a view to issuing a certificate
- Mental Health practitioner is available to come to the person and is able to examine them, Including calling for Police assistance s41
- If no Medical practitioner is available. Try to get the person to go willingly to a mental health practitioner and
- If the person refuses to go willingly to Mental Health practitioner take reasonable steps to
- Take the person to Mental Health practitioner with police assistance under s41 and
- Ensure mental health practitioners able to examine the person
- Once this certificate is issued under s8B4B And
- arrange an assessment examination under S9
When called for assistance by a DAO, what can Police do under s41?
A constable call to the assistance of a DAO
- May enter the premises with the person/proposed patient is and
- Must if member is not in uniform produce identification
- May detain that person for 6 hours and the time it takes to conduct the examination
- Take the person to the place at which they have an examination, detain that person for 6 hours or the time it takes to conduct an examination.
S109 - Police powers in relation to a person appearing to be mentally disordered in public place
If a person is found wandering at large in any public place and is acting in a manner that gives reasonable belief that they may be mentally disordered, any constable may, if they think it would be desirable in the interests of the person or of the public to:
- Take that person to a police station, hospital surgery or some other appropriate place and
- Arrange for a Mental Health practitioner to examine them as soon as practicable
S110C - Powers of police when urgent assistance is required
A constable called to the assistance of the mental health practitioner may
- Enter the premises where the person/proposed patient is and
- Produce identification they are Police and
- Detain the person/proposed patient or take them to a place nominated by the mental health practitioner.
- Detention for no longer than 6 hours or the time it takes for the examination which ever is shorter
S122B - use of force
If exercising the power in an emergency, may use such force as reasonably necessary in the circumstances to
- Take/retake a patient, detain a patient and the power to enter premises.
If force used it must be recorded and a copy of the record given to the Director of area Mental Health Services as soon as practicable
What do recent coronial recommendations advise? What does this include?
All offences should still be investigated with alternative resolutions offered where appropriate and relevant risk information around those offences shared.
It includes:
Notebook statements and photographs. You can only share photos of a person in the injuries if those images are needed to support a mental health assessment.
With a focus on prevention first, all staff are to consider what when dealing with mentally disordered people?
- Staff are to consider the use of Police discretion and alternative resolutions as appropriate.
- an important principle is to ensure risk information is shared when passing a person into the care of a DAO. This includes threats or words around suicidal intent and any other risk.
In the course of Police duties you will encounter people who are behaving differently. This could be due to what?
- Physical condition, e.g. metabolic and balance or infection
- Mental distress
- Intellectual disability
- Brain injury or illness
- Mental disorder
What does the Mental Health CAT (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992 detail police powers and duties to do?
- Help health authorities
- Find a mentally disordered person wandering at large, or
- Retake a patient absent without leave from a hospital.
Memorandum of understanding between the police and the ministry of health covers?
Responsibilities, transportation of patients and use of force and it states that the DAO is the official in charge at any incident under MH (CAT) Act 1992
Provides that where a person needs to be assessed under Mental Health (CAT) Act 1992 that this should take place in the least restrictive environment possible.
A person Intoxicated should not delay any mental health assessment.
What are the key words in the definition of mental disorder?
- poses are serious danger …. and
- …..Seriously diminished capacity to look after themselves.
Note: Many people perceive as suffering a mental disorder but do not meet the legislative definition of mentally disordered e.g. person acting erratically in a public place but otherwise functioning.
Mental Health assessments may not be invoked simply because of a persons?
- Political, religious or cultural beliefs
- Sexual preferences
- Criminal or delinquent behaviour
- Substance abuse
- Intellectual disability