Mental Health Act Flashcards
What were the ancient views of mental illness?
In ancient Greece, having a mental illness meant that a person gained the displeasure of the gods in ancient times. They were shunned by society and isolated, cared for by family members willing to be associated with the patient. However, all throughout history, no one tried to make sense of mental illness through sociological contexts
What was the view of mental illness in the Middle Ages?
Sometimes treated as witches or thought to be inhabited by demons. But during this time there was the establishment of the first asylums.
What are asylums?
Specific facilities for the care and treatment of the mentally ill
What was the view of mental illness from the 1600s onwards?
Many mentally ill patients were treated inhumanely as they were isolated and kept in horribly conditions. However, in the 1700s reform started to build momentum, and in the late 1800s establishments of state mental hospitals came about with more human treatments
What was Goffman’s stance on asylums?
Argued that some asylums were worse than prisons or concentration camps, with no rights given to the patients. And because the patients were being institutionalized, they didn’t have enough social interaction, leading them to stay longer in the institutions
What is the mental health act?
Providing care, treatment, and control of a consumer who is mentally ill or disordered.
A person can be detained in a mental health facility if a psychiatrist is satisfied that they are mentally ill, and no other care of a less restrictive kind is appropriate or available.
Keeps primary carers informed and tries to provide the least restricted environment.
Under the act, who would be considered a mentally ill person?
Suffering from a mental illness and there are “reasonable grounds” for believing that care, treatment, or control of the person is necessary for the person’s own protection from serious harm, or for the protection of others from serious harm
What is serious harm?
Physical harm, financial harm, self-neglect, neglect of others, harm to reputation and relationships
What are the patient rights under mental health act?
Assists consumers to participate in the community and receive medication for therapeutic or diagnostics (not at all for punishment or convenience of others). Consumers have no restriction of liberty and are invited to engage in treatment plans.
