Lesson 4.2 - Mental Health and Suicide Intervention Flashcards
What behaviours indicate a person may be in a mental distress or feeling suicidal?
- Threatening to hurt or kill themselves
- Looking for ways to kill themselves
- Seeking access to pills,
- weapons or other means
- Crying or emotional outbursts
- Increasing alcohol or drugs misuse
- Acting recklessly or engaging in risky activities seemingly without thinking
- Fighting
- Law breaking
- Withdrawing from friends, family, society
- Dropping out of school or college
- Prior suicidal behaviour
- Putting affairs in order
- Engaging in self-harm
- A recent suicidal attempt
What thoughts indicate a person may be in mental distress or feeling suicidal?s
- Talking of thoughts of suicide
- Thinking about planning for suicide
- Talking or writing about death, dying, suicide or hopelessness
- Believing there is no way out
- Talking of escape
- No future
- Thinking of themselves as damaged
- Preoccupied
- Want the pain to end
What feelings indicate a person may be in mental distress or feeling suicidal?
- Desperate
- Sad
- Ashamed
- Guilty
- Worthless
- Disconnected
- Hopelessness
- Helplessness
- Rage
- Anger
- Seeking revenge
- No reason for living
- No sense of purpose in life
- Feeling alone
- Dramatic
- Changes in mood
What situations indicate a person may be in mental distress or feeling suicidal?
- Relationship problems
- School/college/work issues
- Bullying
- Criminal activity
- Bas associations
- Impending trial dates
- Family and money problems
- Isolation
- Sexual and other abuse
- Suicide attempt - Others suicide attempts or deaths
- Anniversaries - Death, divorce, birthday
- Addictions
- Physical health problems
- Mental Health Problems
What physical changes indicate a person may be in mental distress or feeling suicidal?
- Lack of physical energy
- Unable to sleep or sleeping all the time
- Change in appetite
- Personal neglect/unkempt
- Increase minor illness
- Self-harm marks
What does ALERT stand for?
- Ask
- Listen
- Encourage
- Reassure
- Take
What is involved in the Behavioural Change Stairway?
- Active listening
- Empathy
- Rapport
- Influence
- Behavioural Change
What are the Initial Approach Considerations?
- Reduce immediate danger by preventing access to lethal means
- Assume a calm, non threatening manner
- Consider personal space issues
What does Section 297 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 allow Police to do?
Remove a person to a place of safety from a public place if:-
- They reasonably suspect that person in a public place has a mental disorder; and
- The person is in need of immediate care or treatment; and
- That it is considered to be in the interest of that person or necessary for the protection of any other person to remove the person to a place of safety
What information is to be recorded when removing a person?
- Whether removed under S297 powers or voluntary basis
- Their name and address
- The date and time they were removed from the public place
- Address of POS, and, where relevant, any subsequent places of safety and reason for more than one
- The circumstances
- If they have been moved to a Police station and why
- Reason why you have been unable to inform the nearest relative/person residing with or carer
- Disposal
What does Section 298 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 stipulate?
The details pertaining to the removal using S297 must be shared with:
- The local Authority in whose area the POS is situated
- The person’s nearest relative as soon as reasonably practicable
- The Mental Health Commission within 14 days of the person being detained un S297 and removed to a POS
What are the 4 reasons it would be considered lawful for a Police Officer to remove a person suspected of having a mental disorder to a POS for psychiatric assesment?
- The person leaves on a voluntary basis
- Person has committed a crime or offence and officers use powers afforded to them under that legislation
- Circumstances where there is immediate risk to life
- Officers use powers afforded to them by a Removal Order (S293 or 294) obtained by and under direction of a MHO
Who should be contacted to attend a private place as they have powers under the Mental Health Act to detain a person and take them to a POS or apply for warrant and orders?
GP/MHO
What should be noted prior to being released from the POS?
- Note full personal details
- Record outcome of joint risk and MH assessments and rationale in notebook
- Note details of the MH professional who carried out assessment and any information which could help inform risk assessment
- Clinical information
- Is person safe to travel home alone
- If possible arrange for suitable person who is willing and capable of accepting responsibility for the person, having advised them of circumstances
Any other relevant information including care plans anf aftercare options
