Vulnerable Population Flashcards
Purposes of the mental health Act
- care, treatment and control of people suffering from a mental illness
- to facilitate care, through community facilities
- provide hospital care on a voluntary basis and where appropriate on an involuntary basis
- protecting a persons civil rights and provide access to appropriate care
- facilitate the involvement of patients and careers in decisions about their care and treatment
Tho whom does the MHA apply?
The Act make provisions for the care of people who:
- are voluntary patients
- are involuntary patients
- are on a CTO
- forensic patients
What is a mental illness?
A condition that seriously impairs, either temporarily or permanently, the mental functioning of a person and is characterised by the presence of one or more of the following symptoms:
- delusions
- hallucinations
- serious TFD
- severe disturbance of mood- sustained or repeated irrational behaviour that indicates the presence of any one or more of the above symptoms
What is the criteria for mentally ill person?
Has a mental Illness, and
- risk of serious harm to self or others (physical, reputation, financial)
And
- continuing condition, including any likely deterioration taken into account
And
- no other care of a less restrictive kind available
Who is mentally disordered?
Someone who’s behaviour for the time being, is so irrational that there are reasonable grounds for deciding that the temporary care, treatment and control of the person is necessary to protect them or other from serious physical harm.
Eg. Actively suicidal post relationship breakdown, situational crisis
Declared mental health facilities
There are 3 initial classes of facilities: - emergency class that deals with short term detention for initial assessment and treatment
- I patient treatment class that deals with the full range of inpatient functions under the Act
- community or health care agency class to administer community treatment orders
Voluntary admission
- authorised medical officer must decide that the son I’d likely to benefit from inpatient care and treatment
- person has the right to self discharge without notice
- hospital may decide to discharge in some cases
- right to appeal to the medical superintendent to admit or discharge
Issues in mental health
- politically powerless
- vulnerable, low self-esteem, self doubt, distorted thinking
- implications for autonomy
- stigma
- implications for nursing care
Involuntary admission
The person must fulfil the criteria for ‘mentally ill’ or ‘mentally disordered’ for the purpose of the Act. There are a number of ways the admission process may be initiated:
- certificate of medical practitioner/mental health clinician
- apprehension/ assistance of police
- request of friend, relative or primary career
- order of the court
- breach of CTO
- following order for medical examination by a magistrate
- transfer from another health facility
- by ambulance
Detention as a mentally disordered person
- can be detained for 3 working days
- must be examined every 24hrs by a doctor
- must be discharged if no longer mentally ill/disordered
- can be detained for 3 periods of up to 3 days within 1 month
- interpreter to be provided where appropriate
Detention as a mentally ill person
- must be presented at a MH inquiry
- legal representation
- medicated at minimum level
- appear in street clothes
- interpreter provided where required
- must be discharged if the finding is that they are no longer a mentally disordered person
CTOs
- legal order made by MHT
- less restrictive than inpatient
- sets out terms under which a person must accept medications, therapies, counselling, rehab, other services and management while living in the community
- implemented by a mental health facility that has developed an appropriate treatment plan for the individual client
- can be up to 12 months
