Professional Issues and Global Mental Health

Question 1

What are professional issues in psychology?

Answer 1

Topics related to ethical, legal, and professional responsibilities, including patient rights and treatment legislation.

Question 2

What does the term “psychopathology in the eyes of the law” refer to?

Answer 2

The legal implications of mental health disorders, including accountability, decision-making ability, and criminal responsibility.

Question 3

What role does free will play in professional issues?

Answer 3

Free will questions affect how much control individuals have over their actions and the extent of their accountability.

Question 4

What is one legal concern related to psychopathology?

Answer 4

The ability of individuals with mental illness to discern right from wrong and participate in legal processes.

Question 5

What is the insanity defense?

Answer 5

A legal defense used when an individual cannot be held responsible for their actions due to severe mental illness.

Question 6

What is involuntary commitment?

Answer 6

The legal process of detaining individuals with severe mental illness for treatment without their consent.

Question 7

What protections are available for vulnerable mental health patients?

Answer 7

Legal and ethical protections, including rights to treatment, informed consent, and refusal of treatment.

Question 8

What is the significance of the Mental Health Act (2016)?

Answer 8

It outlines legal standards for mental health care, emphasizing minimal restrictions on patients’ rights.

Question 9

What is proxy decision-making?

Answer 9

When a guardian or advocate makes treatment decisions on behalf of a person unable to do so.

Question 10

What are three main principles of the Australian Psychology Code of Ethics?

Answer 10

Respect, propriety, and integrity.

Question 11

What is professional registration?

Answer 11

A legal mechanism to ensure that health practitioners are qualified, maintaining public trust and safety.

Question 12

What are “universal prevention strategies” in mental health?

Answer 12

Programs aimed at everyone, such as school-based consent education.

Question 13

What are “selective prevention strategies”?

Answer 13

Targeted interventions for high-risk groups, like body image programs for adolescent girls.

Question 14

What are “indicated prevention strategies”?

Answer 14

Interventions for individuals at high risk, like those who experienced trauma.

Question 15

What is the biopsychosocial model in mental health?

Answer 15

A framework that considers biological, psychological, and social factors in understanding mental health.

Question 16

What is global mental health?

Answer 16

A field focused on improving mental health and achieving equity worldwide.

Question 17

What is a significant challenge for global mental health?

Answer 17

The lack of mental health resources in low- and middle-income countries.

Question 18

What is the “treatment gap” in global mental health?

Answer 18

The disparity between the number of people needing mental health care and those who receive it.

Question 19

What does the SUNDAR model advocate?

Answer 19

Community-level mental health care that simplifies interventions and uses local resources.

Question 20

What is the Friendship Bench?

Answer 20

A community mental health program that uses lay health workers to deliver simplified cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Question 21

What are Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs)?

Answer 21

A measure of the burden of disease, showing high mental health burdens in low-income countries.

Question 22

What is the Cultural Formulation Interview (CFI) in DSM-5?

Answer 22

A semi-structured interview tool to consider cultural factors in diagnosing mental health conditions.

Question 23

What is the goal of the Lancet Commission’s perspective on global mental health?

Answer 23

To expand global mental health efforts beyond treatment to include prevention and quality care.

Question 24

Why is stigma a problem in mental health care?

Answer 24

It leads to human rights abuses, social isolation, and exclusion, especially in low-resource settings.

Question 25

What is informed consent in mental health treatment?

Answer 25

The process by which patients are informed of and agree to their treatment plans.

Question 26

What is the DSM-5’s cultural consideration update?

Answer 26

It includes guidelines for understanding and incorporating cultural factors in mental health assessment.

Question 27

What is the purpose of patient rights statements?

Answer 27

To outline patients' entitlements, like the right to treatment in the least restrictive environment.

Question 28

What is the insanity defense controversy?

Answer 28

Some view it as an escape from punishment, while others argue it appropriately redirects cases to mental health care.

Question 29

How does the biopsychosocial lens affect mental health prevention?

Answer 29

It encourages interventions that address biological, psychological, and social determinants of health.

Question 30

Why might some mental health practitioners be legally required to have a license?

Answer 30

To ensure they are qualified and accountable, protecting vulnerable populations.

Question 31

What is civil commitment?

Answer 31

A legal process to detain and treat individuals who may harm themselves or others due to mental illness.

Question 32

What is the role of ethics in mental health practice?

Answer 32

To guide practitioners in providing responsible, respectful, and fair treatment to all clients.

Question 33

What is a major critique of DSM-5 in global contexts?

Answer 33

Its categories may not fit well with diverse cultural understandings of mental health.

Question 34

How does the law affect individuals with serious mental illness?

Answer 34

It may require additional protections and sometimes restricts rights to ensure safety and care.

Question 35

What does “competence to stand trial” entail?

Answer 35

A person’s ability to understand and participate in legal proceedings.

Question 36

What does professional negligence mean?

Answer 36

Failure by a health practitioner to meet the required standard of care, causing harm to a client.

Question 37

What does the right to refuse treatment include?

Answer 37

Patients can refuse certain treatments, with considerations for informed consent and second opinions.

Question 38

How does stigma differ between high-income and low-income countries?

Answer 38

Stigma remains strong globally but is intensified in low-resource settings with limited mental health support.

Question 39

What is the Mental Health Act’s stance on restrictive treatment?

Answer 39

It mandates that restrictive treatment only occurs when no less restrictive options are available.

Question 40

How does public perception impact the insanity defense?

Answer 40

Misunderstandings lead some to think it’s overused, while it is rarely successful and complex to prove.

Question 41

What is the importance of professional registration checks?

Answer 41

They verify ongoing training, health, and criminal background for public safety.

Question 42

Why is mental health considered a global health priority?

Answer 42

Mental health significantly impacts global disease burden and quality of life.

Question 43

What is the significance of community-based mental health interventions?

Answer 43

They increase access to care in areas with limited mental health resources.

Question 44

What does the term "non-WEIRD contexts" mean in mental health?

Answer 44

Settings that are not Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic, often facing different mental health challenges.

Question 45

What is the aim of balanced care models in mental health?

Answer 45

To provide resources at different levels, from community to tertiary, improving access for all severity levels.