Attitudes and experiences of nursing staff to the Mental Health Act 2001: lessons for future mental health legislation

2014 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Doherty ◽  
F. Jabbar ◽  
B. D. Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Nursing Staff ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mental Health Act ◽  
Clinical Nursing ◽  
Mental Health Legislation ◽  
Paper Work ◽  
Health Legislation ◽  
The Impact

ObjectivesThe Mental Health Act 2001 was implemented in 2006 to bring Ireland into line with international practice and United Nations Conventions on Human Rights. Previous studies have reported some practical difficulties for the professionals involved. We wished to examine the experiences of nursing staff and the impact of the Act on clinical nursing practice since its implementation.MethodThis cross-sectional survey was conducted by questionnaire. It contained questions examining training in and attitudes to the Act, and any resultant changes in nursing practise.ResultsA total of 317 questionnaires were returned. Of the nurses, 92% reported having received training in the Act, and 56% of nursing staff believed that their workload had increased as a result of the change in legislation. Of those who made a comment, 76.5% were negative, with increased paper work, lack of clarity and an excessive focus on legalities being the most common difficulties reported.ConclusionsNursing staff have shown mixed attitudes to the Mental Health Act 2001, but many of the difficulties encountered are similar to those experienced by other professionals.

Attitudes and experiences to the implementation of the Mental Health Act 2001

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 755-755 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.M. Doherty ◽  
F. Jabbar ◽  
B.D. Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Nursing Staff ◽  
Nursing Management ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mental Health Act ◽  
Chain Of Command ◽  
Paper Work ◽  
The Impact

IntroductionThe Mental Health Act 2001 was implemented in November 2006 and its introduction has heralded many important changes in the provision of mental health care in Ireland.ObjectivesTo examine the impact of the Act on the time and patterns of attention given to patients since its implementation, and to look at some of the difficulties encountered.AimsTo propose amendments to the legislation, based on the experiences elicited.MethodsThis cross-sectional survey was conducted by questionnaire which we distributed along the chain of command in nursing management. They contained questions looking at attitudes to the Act and the resultant changes in nursing practise. The questionnaire also examined the levels of training with regard to the Act received by members of nursing staff. There was a space given for comments not encompassed by the questions.Results317 questionnaires were returned. 56% of nursing staff believed that their workload had increased as a result of the change in legislation. Of those who made a comment, 76.5% were negative in relation to the new legislation, with increased paper work, lack of clarity and an excessive focus on legal technicalities being the most common difficulties reported.ConclusionNursing staff have shown mixed attitudes to the Mental Health Act 2001. However, as a majority have reported a need for increased training, this is an important need which needs to be met.

Use of the Mental Health (Scotland) Act (1984) in south Glasgow

2003 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 141-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
John R. Taylor ◽  
K. B. Idris
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Information System ◽  
Psychotic Disorders ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Hand Search ◽  
Health Officer ◽  
Mental Health Legislation ◽  
Health Legislation

Aims and MethodA cross-sectional survey of the use of the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 in a defined urban area. Patients initially detained under civil sections (Sections 24, 25, 26 and 18) between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998 were identified using the hospital information system and a hand search of section papers.ResultsThere were 283 detentions involving 204 patients that lasted a median of 6 days. A total of 98% of patients were initially detained on a 72-hour ‘emergency section’. A total of 61% had non-organic psychotic disorders (172/283). Less than half of detentions were during the working week. Consent was usually provided by the mental health officer or relatives, but was not provided for 11% of detentions. Patients detained after admission were more likely to be detained for a longer period (29 v. 3 days) and to have their detention extended over 72 hours (64% v. 41%) compared with those detained in the community.Clinical ImplicationsThis paper provides information on some of the gaps identified by recent reviews of mental health legislation in Scotland and discusses the possible impact of the changes proposed by the Millan Committee. The workload of general adult consultant psychiatrists is likely to increase and the proportion of patients detained without consent could also increase. The study supports the differentiation of patients detained after admission from those detained in the community, as the patterns of detention are different.

scholarly journals Use of the Mental Health (Scotland) Act (1984) in south Glasgow

2003 ◽  
Vol 27 (04) ◽  
pp. 141-144
Author(s):  
John R. Taylor ◽  
K. B. Idris
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Information System ◽  
Psychotic Disorders ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Hand Search ◽  
Health Officer ◽  
Mental Health Legislation ◽  
Health Legislation

Aims and Method A cross-sectional survey of the use of the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 in a defined urban area. Patients initially detained under civil sections (Sections 24, 25, 26 and 18) between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998 were identified using the hospital information system and a hand search of section papers. Results There were 283 detentions involving 204 patients that lasted a median of 6 days. A total of 98% of patients were initially detained on a 72-hour ‘emergency section’. A total of 61% had non-organic psychotic disorders (172/283). Less than half of detentions were during the working week. Consent was usually provided by the mental health officer or relatives, but was not provided for 11% of detentions. Patients detained after admission were more likely to be detained for a longer period (29 v. 3 days) and to have their detention extended over 72 hours (64% v. 41%) compared with those detained in the community. Clinical Implications This paper provides information on some of the gaps identified by recent reviews of mental health legislation in Scotland and discusses the possible impact of the changes proposed by the Millan Committee. The workload of general adult consultant psychiatrists is likely to increase and the proportion of patients detained without consent could also increase. The study supports the differentiation of patients detained after admission from those detained in the community, as the patterns of detention are different.

scholarly journals Mental health legislation in Egypt

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 64-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nasser Loza ◽  
Mohamed El Nawawi
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychiatric Services ◽  
Code Of Practice ◽  
Mental Health Act ◽  
Mental Health Legislation ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
History Of ◽  
Health Legislation

This paper first briefly reviews the history of psychiatric services in Egypt. It then details the legislation in place during the last years of the Mubarak regime and goes on to set out recent developments, in particular the Code of Practice introduced for the Mental Health Act of 2009.

Task-shifting in Mental Health Services: Extent, Impact and Challenges in Ghana

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S618-S618
Author(s):  
V. Agyapong
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Policy ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Continuing Professional Development ◽  
Task Shifting ◽  
Mental Health Workers ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Impact

AimTo examine the role and scope of practice of community mental health workers (CMHWs) as well as the impact and challenges associated with of work of CMHWs within Ghana's mental health delivery system.MethodsA cross sectional survey of 11 psychiatrists, 29 health policy directors and 164 CMHWs as well as key informant interviews with 3 CMHWs, 5 psychiatrists and 2 health policy directors and three focus group discussions with 21 CMHWs. Results of quantitative data were analysed with SPSS version 20 whilst the results from qualitative data were analysed manually through thematic analysis.ResultsIn addition to duties prescribed in their job descriptions, all the CMHWs identified several jobs that they routinely perform including jobs reserved for higher level cadres such as medication prescribing for which most of the CMHWs have no training. Some CMHWs reported they had considered leaving the mental health profession because of the stigma, risk, lack of opportunities for continuing professional development and career progression as well as poor remuneration. Almost all the stakeholders believed CMHWs in Ghana receive adequate training for the role they are expected to play although many identify some gaps in the training of these mental health workers for the expanded roles they actually play. All the stakeholders expressed concerns about the quality of the care provided by CMHWs.ConclusionThe study highlights several important issues, which facilitate or hinder effective task-shifting arrangements from psychiatrists to CMHWs and impact on the quality of care provided by the latter.Disclosure of interestThe author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals Ethnicity and outcome of appeal after detention under the Mental Health Act 1983

2009 ◽  
Vol 33 (8) ◽  
pp. 288-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramin Nilforooshan ◽  
Rizkar Amin ◽  
James Warner
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Ethnic Differences ◽  
Success Rates ◽  
Mental Health Act ◽  
Mental Health Legislation ◽  
Black Caribbean ◽  
Chi Squared ◽  
Health Legislation ◽  
The Relationship

Aims and MethodThere is insufficient research into the relationship between ethnicity and appeals against detention under mental health legislation. We sought to identify rates and success of appeals in different ethnic groups through a retrospective analysis of all detentions under the Mental Health Act 1983 over 1 year.ResultsWe found high rates of appeals overall, with substantial differences between ethnic groups (36 (39%) White British compared with 71 (63%) Black Caribbean (P = 0.0001) and 21 (68%) White Irish (P = 0.01) individuals (Yates corrected chi-squared)). Success rates on appeal were very low in all groups.Clinical ImplicationsThere are significant ethnic differences in appeals against detention under the Mental Health Act.

scholarly journals The impact of COVID-19 on mental health outcomes among hospital fever clinic attendants across Nepal: A cross-sectional study

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. e0248684
Author(s):  
Hridaya Raj Devkota ◽  
Tula Ram Sijali ◽  
Ramji Bogati ◽  
Meraj Ahmad ◽  
Karuna Laxmi Shakya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mental Health Programs ◽  
The Impact

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has been creating a panic and distressing situations among the entire population globally including Nepal. No study has been conducted assessing the psychological impact of this pandemic on the general public in Nepal. The objective of this study is to assess the mental health status during COVID-19 outbreak and explore the potential influencing factors among the population attending the hospital fever clinics with COVID–19 symptoms. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted between May—June, 2020 with a sample of 645 participants aged 18 and above in 26 hospitals across Nepal. Telephone interviews were conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire along with a validated psychometric tool, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress (DASS-21) scale. The metrics and scores of symptoms and their severity were created and analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the association of potential covariates with outcome variables. Results The prevalence of anxiety, depression and stress were 14%, 7% and 5% respectively. In reference to Karnali, participants from Bagmati province reported higher level of anxiety (OR 3.44, 95% CI 1.31–9.06), while stress (OR 4.27, 95% CI 1.09–18.32) and depressive symptoms (OR 3.11, 95% CI 1.05–9.23) observed higher among the participants in Province 1. Women were more at risk of anxiety (OR 3.41, 95% CI 1.83–6.36) than men. Similarly, people currently living in rented houses reported more stress (OR 2.97, 95% CI 1.05–8.43) and those living far from family reported higher rates of depressive symptoms (OR 3.44, 95% CI 1.03–11.46). Conclusion The study identified increased prevalence of stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms during the initial stage of COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal. Considering the findings, there is urgent need to develop and implement appropriate community-based mental health programs targeting individuals who have had COVID-19 symptoms and who are prone to develop adverse mental health outcomes.

scholarly journals Australia's mental health legislation

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 38-40
Author(s):  
Kenneth C. Kirkby ◽  
Scott Henderson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Health Law ◽  
International Treaty ◽  
Mental Health Law ◽  
Mental Health Act ◽  
International Trends ◽  
Strong Emphasis ◽  
Mental Health Legislation ◽  
Health Legislation

Australia has a generally progressive approach to mental health law, reflective of international trends in human rights. Responsibility for most legislation is vested in the six States and two Territories, a total of eight jurisdictions, such that at any given time several new mental health acts are in preparation. In addition there is a model mental health act that promotes common standards. Transfer of orders between jurisdictions relies on Memoranda of Understanding between them, and is patchy. State and Territory legislation is generally cognisant of international treaty obligations, which are themselves the preserve of the Federal Parliament and legislature. UK legislation has had a key influence in Australia, the 1959 Mental Health Act in particular, with its strong emphasis on voluntary hospitalisation, prefacing deinstitutionalisation.

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