Chapter 3: Mental Health Flashcards
Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992
What is def’n of mental disorder?
- In relation to any person,
- an abnormal state of mind
- (whether continuous or intermittent)
- characterised by :
- delusions,
- disorders of mood,
- perception,
- volition
- cognition
- of such a degree that it:
a) poses serious danger to H&S of person or others
b) seriously diminishes capacity of that person to care for themselves
Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992
Sn 38 - ie. if a person believes someone may be suffering from a mental disorder, what do they do (x1) and what does DAO do? (x2)
- believes person suffering from mental disorder request assistance of DAO
- DAO must:
- investigate, satisfy himself that, concern is genuine, RGB to believe person may be suffering mental disorder,
- Decide whether person needs medical examination urgently in interests of person or another.
Mental Health Act
Sn 38 - what must DAO do if needs non-urgent medical examination? x4
- Needs medical examination, but not urgently
- Arrange Med. Prac to examine person - to issue certificate
- Cert issued, assist to apply under 8A for Assessment
- Arrange Assessment Examination
- Needs medical examination, but not urgently
Mental Health Act 1992
DAO does what?
Medical Practitioner does what?
Psychiatrist or Dr does what?
DAO = Investigates
MED PRAC. = Medical Examination
PSYCHIATRIST / DOCTOR = Assessment Examination
Mental Health Act 1992
Sn 38 - what must DAO do if person needs urgent medical examination?
- Urgent med. exam
- Med Prac to come to patient to examine (if available)
- Steps to ensure Med Prac. can examine (call police)
- (if unavailable), try to take to Med Prac.
- if refuses to go willingly:
- Take to Med Prac. (call cops, sn41)
- Ensure Med Prac. can examine and issue Certificate
- Urgent med. exam
- Once cert. issued, assist to apply under 8A for Assessment Examination, or apply themselves
- Arrange Assessment Examination Sn9
Mental Health Act 1992
Sn39 (REFERS TO OUTPATIENTS AND INPATIENTS ON LEAVE)
- what 3 types of patients does this apply to?
- Who can ask for help and who do they ask?
- What 3 steps are taken initially by DAO, (remember, this person is already under MH…)
- Patients subject to:
- assessment otherwise than in hospital,
- community treatment order,
- on leave from hospital as inpatient - DAO can be called by anyone.
- DAO must:
- Investigate matter, ensure valid concerns
- Inform RESPONSIBLE CLINICIAN of concerns
- give other assistance as needed
Mental Health Act 1992:
Sn40 (REFERS TO TAKING PATIENT / PROPOSED PATIENT TO PLACE FOR TREATMENT/ASSESSMENT AND THEY’RE REFUSING)
1 - which patients does this effect. x3 - (similar 5x in Sn39)
2 - what must DAO do before asking police for help? (take…x2)
- Patient required to attend place, and refusing to attend for: - assessment exam, examination, hearing, review
and
- Patients subject to Community Treatment Order and refusing to attend, and
- Patients subject to in-patient order, and absent from hospital without leave, when leave expired…
- DAO - take reasonable steps to take patient to requisite place
- take patient back to hospital.
Mental Health Act 1992
Sn 41 - police powers and assistance of DAO for urgent Medical Exam where patient refusing to go.
1) - 4)
1) DAO may call constable for assistance for (38 - Medical examination urgently, refusing to go)
2) Constable may enter premises of patient and produce ID/badge
3) Detain person for shorter of 6hrs or time it takes to conduct medical exam
4) Take person to place of medical exam, and detain for shorter of 6hrs or time for m.e.
Mental Health Act 1992
Sn 41 - What can a constable do if DAO asks for assistance for person refusing to remain, or attend for 5 different things…re. exam and treatment.
What are these 5 things?
How long can we detain them?
What should we do if practical?
5) Constable enters premises of patient, must produce ID, can detain patient for Med Exam or take patient to place required for:
* Medical Examination
* assessment exam Sn9
* assessment sn 11 (5days)/13 (14days)
* review
* community treatment order
- detain 6hrs or time takes to do what is needed to do the thing…
- take back to hospital if inpatient and AWOL
- if reasonably practical to obtain warrant, get one!
Mental Health Act
Sn 109 - Police powers in relation to person appearing mentally disordered in public place
first bit - what do we have to believe and what can we do?
If med prac thinks not mental - then what.
1) Person found wandering at large, public place, acting in manner, RGB may be mentally disordered, if desirable in the interests of person or public:
- Take to police stn, hosp, surgery and
- arrange for Med Prac. to examine asap
Med Prac. determines NO RGB mentally disordered, then RELEASE forthwith.
Mental Health Act
Sn 109 - Police powers in relation to person appearing mentally disordered in public place:
What happens if they are deemed Mentally Disordered
Already detained at station, what are the next 4 steps.
- If RGB suffering mental disorder, and desirable for assessment examination:
- Medical Prac ASAP issue certificate under 8B(4)(b) and make application under 8A
- Cop may continue to detain till Ass. Exam complete or take to another place and detain there for Ass. Exam.
- 6hrs, or time for exam - whichever shorter.
Mental Health Act
Sn 110C - Police powers when urgent assistance required. ie. If called to assistance, do what? x4
Then when at place, how long can you detain, and for what (x3)?
Constable called to assistance of Med. Prac. may
- enter premises of patient
- produce ID if not in uniform
- detain patient or
- take to place nominated by med prac.
detain 6hrs or shorter for
Sedative
Medical Exam
Assessment Exam
Mental Health Act 1992
Sn 122B - use of force (emergency powers re. mental health) - reasonably necessary to ? x2
What must you do after this re. reporting? x2
Exercising powers in emergency, use such force as is reasonably necessary
- Take or retake
- Enter premises
- Circ’s of force used must be recorded ASAP
- Copy of record to Director of Area Mental Health Services ASAP
PEOPLE WITH MENTAL IMPAIRMENTS - Police Manual
What does Mental Disorder NOT include x5
- Political, religious or cultural beliefs
- sexual preferences
- criminal, delinquent behaviour
- substance abuse
- intellectual disability
Mental Health
What are the steps for person suffering from mental disorder - ie. in relation to the person and what should happen, 1-6 first… x6
(scroll)
- Ask DAO for assistance
- DAO investigates and decides whether Med Exam needed, and how urgently
- DAO arranges Med. Practitioner to do Medical Examination.
- Med Prac. decides whether certificate needs to be issued for Compulsory Assessment Examination 8B(4)(b)
- Psychiatrist/Dr carries out Assessment Examination
- Person then compelled by court (Community Treatment Order or Inpatient Order) to undergo treatment.