Mental Health

Question 1

Mental disorder

Answer 1

Means an abnormal state of mind characterised by delusional, or disorders of mods, perception, volition or cognition of such a degree that:

• Poses a serious danger to health or safety of that person or of others
• seriously diminishes the capacity of that person to take care of himself or herself

Question 2

Restricted patients

Answer 2

These are patients who are subject to a compulsory treatment order but are considered to present a danger to the public.

Question 3

Special patients

Answer 3

These are patients who are detained by the way of a court order if they are found to be criminally insane or unfit to plead. The category also includes people on remand for a psychiatric report.

Question 4

Police powers in public places section 109

Answer 4

-any member of police may apprehend
- any person wandering at large in a public place
AND
-behaving in a manner that gives rise to a reasonable belief that he/she may be mentally disordered
AND
-the member believes it is the interest of the person or public to do so.

Question 5

Police power to assist section 41

Answer 5

-Enter the premises by force if necessary
AND
-detain the person in those premises until the assessment examination has been conducted
OR
Take the person to some other place nominated by the DAO for the purpose of a medical examination or an assessment examination. And detain at the location until the examination has been conducted.

Question 6

Authority of doctor section 110

Answer 6

When a medical practitioner has examined a person and believes they are mentally disordered and it is in their interest that an assessment be completed, that doctor can issue a certificate to accompany the assessment application