Workshop Week 2 - 2 Flashcards
Who does the Mental Health Act protect?
Clients with a mental illness (and society).
Each X has different laws regarding involuntary admissions?
state
what do involuntary admission laws detail?
when a person can be legally declared to have a mental illness and be admitted to hospital against their will
Laws detail when a person can be treated against their will. For example:
Community Treatment Orders
Prior to civil commitment laws:
clients were cared for by family members or cared for themselves
Introduction of psychiatric hospitals led to involuntary admissions for:
Reasons unrelated to mental illness
Criteria for involuntary admissions:
Person is either:
- mentally ill; or
- mentally disordered
BOTH TERMS IMPLY A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF HARM (TO SELF OR OTHERS)
Who can make a judgement re: someone being mentally ill or mentally disordered?
- medical doctors
- police
- ambulance
- accredited persons
Psychological disorder is not synonymous with:
“mental illness”
Mental illness what kind of concept?
A legal concept:
- meeting DSM-V criteria for a psychiatric disorder does not necessarily mean that someone fits the legal definition of mental illness
Definitions of mental illness may differ slightly from state to state. True or False?
True
What is the definition of MENTALLY ILL PERSONS in NSW mental health Act?
If person is suffering from mental illness AND
owing to that illness, there are reasonable grounds for believing that care, treatment or control of the person is necessary:
a. for person’s own
protection from serious
harm
b. for the protection of
others from serious harm
What is the definition of MENTALLY DISORDERED PERSONS in NSW mental health Act?
If person’s behaviour for the time being is SO IRRATIONAL as to justify a conclusion on reasonable grounds that TEMPORARY care, treatment or control of the person is necessary:
a. for person's own
protection from serious
harm
b. for the protection of
others from serious harm
Research indicates a ______ increased rate of violence among people with a mental illness?
“moderately” increased rate
What symptoms may increase risk of violence?
- hallucinations
- delusions
- comorbid personality disorder
How do you determine whether someone is dangerous to others?
Evaluations of risk factors:
- history of violence, drug or alcohol dependence, violent thoughts, plans, and intent
What is the procedure for involuntary admission?
- legal paperwork completed and signed by an appropriately qualified person
- medical assessment completed
- transport to psychiatric facility
- review by psychiatrist or psychiatric registrar
- legal paperwork
completed if the
psychiatrist agrees that
admission is required - review by psychiatrist
- application to magistrate should a longer admission be required
- magistrate may or may
not grant a further
order, which again will
be reviewed upon
expiry should further
hospitalisation be
necessary
Clients with a mental health problem can request voluntary admissions to hospital. This (usually) involves:
- assessment by a mental health professional
- medical review
- admission
A community treatment order authorising the compulsory treatment in the community of a person can be made by:
- the MHRT : mental health review tribunal
- magistrate
A CTO may be granted if
- no other care of a less restrictive kind is appropriate, and affected person would benefit from order as least restrictive alternative consistent with safe and effective care
- a MH facility has appropriate treatment plan for affected person and is capable of implementing it
- if affected person has been previously diagnosed as suffering from a mental illness, the affected person has a previous history of refusing to accept appropriate treatment
- when appropriate treatment has been refused, there has been a relapse into an active phase of mental illness
- the relapse has been followed by mental or physical deterioration justifying involuntary admission to a MH facility
How long may CTOs be granted for?
Up to 12 months
Is Pedophilia a psychiatric diagnosis?
yes
What are patients rights in MH facilities
- the right to treatment
- the right to refuse treatment, unless they meet criteria for involuntary treatment
