A comparison of mental health assessment of mentally ill offenders by mental health professionals

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 790-790
Author(s):  
H. Najim ◽  
J. Childs

BackgroundCriminal justice mental health teams were established in The United kingdom in the late nineties of the last century following the publication of the Reed Report 1991.Two teams were established in South Essex following the geographical locality of each team. Basildon and Thurrock and Southend.MethodsAn evaluation form was devised to record all essential areas of assessment.Twenty five assessment of each team were picked and evaluated randomly over a period of a three months. A comparison was done between the assessment of the two teams.ResultsReferring agency one from the west didn’t mention itThree of the west didn’t have the index offence;One of the east and two of the west didn’t have past forensic history.Three of the west and one of the east didn’t have risk assessment.One of the west didn’t have summary of concernsThree of both didn’t mention whether other professionals involved or not.DiscussionComparison between different teams is important to make sure that there is a standard format for assessment and whether it is used in all assessments.It has been shown that assessments are very good in general in both teams. There are some areas which need to be addressed and managed.12% of patients on the west didn’t have risk assessment which is very risky.ConclusionThis comparison has highlighted areas we need to take care off especially risk assessment and liaising with other agencies in managing theses very special group of patients.

Author(s):  
Gianni Pirelli

In this chapter, the authors address evaluations across settings and contexts, such as mental health screenings conducted in community, outpatient, and inpatient settings, with particular attention to the considerations necessary for evaluators, including the need to develop and maintain firearm-specific and cultural competence. They present considerations associated with seven firearm-related subcultures that medical and mental health practitioners are likely to encounter with some regularity. They also speak to the importance of researchers, academics, and students developing such competence. They outline the concept of forensic mental health assessment and demonstrate how certain firearm-specific evaluations are a type of this. They provide considerations related to evaluating civilians applying for firearm permits and those seeking reinstatement of gun rights in forfeiture matters. They review the various models of risk assessment and a firearm-specific framework for conducting these evaluations: the Pirelli Firearm-10. Considerations for law enforcement and related professions are also presented.


2011 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 196-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Kaut

Many mental health professionals are concerned about an increasingly "medicalized" society, driven in part by significant growth in biomedical research and biological perspectives on psychological disorders. The modern medical era, which has endorsed reductionism as the principal way of viewing many health conditions, offers many options for treating psychiatric diagnoses. Pharmacology is a major influence in psychiatric treatment decisions, and despite questions by mental health practitioners about reliance on drugs (Murray, 2009), psychopharmacology provides helpful alternatives. However, pharmacological options for mental health concerns should not be considered in isolation, and the use of drug treatments for cognitive, emotional, and behavioral disorders warrants careful contextual analysis. Mental health practitioners are encouraged to view pharmacology within a comprehensive sociohistorical framework that recognizes the value of a reductionist perspective as part of psychology's rich cognitive and behavioral contributions to contemporary mental health assessment and intervention.


Author(s):  
Jeffrey E. Barnett ◽  
Jeffrey Zimmerman

Some individuals may fear that the days of successful private mental health practices are over. This myth could not be further from the truth. This chapter highlights important data on the need for competent mental health professionals and the dearth of qualified mental health clinicians in many communities. Specific mental health services where there is a great need, where there often is not much competition for qualified clinicians, and where managed care is not involved are described. How to assess the mental health assessment and treatment needs of one’s local community and how to fit the services one offers into meeting these needs is explained. Specific strategies are offered for developing a viable and financially successful private mental health practice that is responsive to community needs and sustainable over time.


1996 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
N M Greenhalgh ◽  
K Wylie ◽  
K J B Rix ◽  
D Tamlyn

A three-month pilot mental health assessment and diversion scheme was carried out at one of the busiest magistrates' courts outside London. In terms of demographic characteristics the sample of prisoners seen in this study was similar to those seen in diversion schemes in London and Manchester. Although 77 per cent of prisoners were found to be suffering from a psychiatric disorder, almost half were suffering from alcohol or drug dependence or misuse and the number with psychotic illnesses was small compared with the London sample. These differences may be partly due to the earlier diversion of acutely mentally ill prisoners from police custody into the health care system in Leeds. The low rate of psychiatric admission from the pilot scheme largely reflected these differences although in the cases of four patients admission was recommended by the assessing psychiatrist but not effected because of the lack of regional secure beds. Other problems identified by those involved in the scheme were the need for the provision of bail hostels specializing in the care of those with psychiatric difficulties and the need for the involvement of community psychiatric nurses within the assessment and diversion scheme.


1969 ◽  
pp. 810
Author(s):  
Aman S. Patel

This article explores the current schemes for sentencing guilty mentally ill offenders in Canada and the United Kingdom. The author highlights the deficiencies of the current Canadian scheme, arguing both that it is limited to the traditional sentencing smorgasbord and that principles of sentencing are difficult to balance with respect to guilty mentally ill offenders. In his analysis of the mental health sentencing dispositions available in the United Kingdom, the author assesses how such a scheme could be implemented in Canada and what modifications are necessary in order to better conform with Canadian law and policy, in particular, the areas concerning disposition thresholds, consent to treatment and discharge are examined. The author concludes that implementation of a hospital disposition in the Canadian sentencing regime is necessary to overcome conflicting sentencing principles and correctional aims, to address the lack of correctional programs and infrastructure courts encounter when sentencing guilty mentally ill offenders, and to enhance the protection of society — the primary goal in sentencing.


1997 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 703-706 ◽  
Author(s):  
George J. Lodge

All British mental health professionals will be aware of several highly publicised deaths at the hands of mentally ill people and will have seen the conclusions of inquiries and government reactions. To reduce the risk of future tragedies effective methods of risk assessment and prediction are needed.


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