Use of personal electronic devices by psychiatric inpatients: benefits, risks and attitudes of patients and staff

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 263-266
Author(s):  
Nick O’Connor ◽  
Katherine Zantos ◽  
Viviana Sepulveda-Flores
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
New South ◽  
Electronic Devices ◽  
Psychiatric Inpatient ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Psychiatric Inpatients ◽  
Local Policy ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Inpatient Units

Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate the attitudes of patients and staff in relation to the potential benefits and risks of allowing psychiatric inpatients controlled access to personal electronic devices (PEDs), and to document a snapshot audit of practice within the mental health inpatient units of New South Wales, Australia. Methods: Psychiatric inpatients and staff at Royal North Shore Hospital’s Mental Health inpatient units were surveyed, and an audit of the policies of the psychiatric inpatients of New South Wales was undertaken. Results: Access to PEDs is denied in 85% of New South Wales psychiatric inpatient units. While patients and staff appear to concur on the risks of access to PEDs and the need for risk assessment and rules, compared to patients, staff appear to underestimate the importance of PEDs to maintaining social connection and recovery. Conclusions: This study may assist in the formulation of local policy and procedure to allow a more recovery-oriented approach to the question of whether patients should have access to their PEDs while in hospital.

How secure are the secure psychiatric units in New South Wales?

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathon Adams ◽  
Stuart Thomas ◽  
Tobias Mackinnon ◽  
Damien Eggleton
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Service Development ◽  
Forensic Mental Health ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Psychiatric Units ◽  
Security Levels ◽  
Inpatient Units ◽  
Security Structure

Objectives: To evaluate the therapeutic security characteristics of the secure forensic mental health inpatient units in New South Wales, Australia. Methods: This study evaluated all eight secure inpatient units in New South Wales using a validated tool, the Security Needs Assessment Profile. Results: A pattern of decreasing therapeutic security across the secure units was found, consistent with their intended security levels, from high security through to open security. However, important inconsistencies across and between levels of security were highlighted. Conclusions: This study clarifies the therapeutic security structure of the New South Wales forensic mental health service, which is an essential first step in service development and reform.

Mental health data: A case for the African communities in New South Wales

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-80
Author(s):  
Daniel Kwai Apat ◽  
Wellington Digwa
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Health Services ◽  
New South ◽  
Mental Health Policy ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Community Members ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Health Related

This paper examines mental health policies in relation to African communities residing in New South Wales, Australia and the attitudes of African communities toward mental disorders and mental health services. Current mental health policy frameworks have shown an inadequate inclusion of African communities. This may negatively affect the design of mental health interventions and how African communities engage with mental health services. The available mental health literature on African communities showed disjointed and uncoordinated data which focuses on specific community-groups within African communities. Insufficient mental health or suicide data, combined with African community members’ perception toward mental disorders and mental health services, makes it very difficult to progress engagement and interventions. There is a need for proper and sizable data on mental health related to people of African descent in NSW and Australia wide, if positive outcomes are to be realised.

scholarly journals Involuntary community treatment in New South Wales, Australia

1995 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Hambridge ◽  
Nicola Watt
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Community Treatment ◽  
Compulsory Treatment ◽  
Perceived Benefits ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Mental Health Legislation ◽  
Health Legislation

The New South Wales Mental Health Act (1990) heralded a number of important changes to mental health legislation in the state. One of these was the option to give compulsory treatment to mentally ill clients living in the community. This article briefly explains community treatment under the Act, and the perceived benefits and the limitations of such legislation. A case example is used to illustrate some of these points. Involuntary community treatment is seen as a less restrictive alternative to hospitalisation for a number of mentally ill clients, but the use of such provisions demands significant resources from the supervising agency.

Emerging themes in Aboriginal child and adolescent mental health: findings from a qualitative study in Sydney, New South Wales

2010 ◽  
Vol 192 (10) ◽  
pp. 603-605 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna B Williamson ◽  
Beverley Raphael ◽  
Sally Redman ◽  
John Daniels ◽  
Sandra J Eades ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Adolescent Mental Health ◽  
Child And Adolescent ◽  
Aboriginal Child ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Emerging Themes

Mental health of animal hoarders: a study of consecutive cases in New South Wales

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 480 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Snowdon ◽  
Graeme Halliday ◽  
Rosemary Elliott ◽  
Glenn E. Hunt ◽  
Steve Coleman
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Services ◽  
New South ◽  
Good Reason ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Clinical Services ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Health Factors ◽  
Mental Health Factors ◽  
Psychiatric Problems

Objective The aim of this study was to review animal hoarding cases referred to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) in New South Wales (NSW) to examine mental health factors that influence the development of animal hoarding and to consider strategies for dealing with such cases. Methods Data were gathered by RSPCA inspectors regarding consecutive cases referred to the agency over 2 years. Result Details were provided about animals and 50 identified hoarders (11 male, 39 female; mean age 57 years) on 48 properties. The mean number of animals per case was 53 (range 6–300). Fifteen participants (30%) were known to have had involvement with mental health or social services. Mental health factors appeared to contribute to animal hoarding in well over 50% of cases. Severe and moderate squalor were observed in 52% and 21% of dwellings assessed respectively, many with accumulated rubbish. Conclusions Animal hoarding is largely attributable to psychological and psychiatric problems. It is recommended that clinical services work alongside animal welfare inspectorates, assessing (and, where appropriate, treating) such problems. What is known about the topic? Animal hoarding is believed to be partly attributable to the hoarders having psychiatric or psychological problems, but relevant mental health assessment of hoarders is not usually arranged. Recidivism after removal of animals is nearly 100%. What does this paper add? The study confirms that animal hoarders commonly have mental health issues. However, RSPCA inspectors are not expected to screen for such issues or refer cases to mental health clinicians. What are the implications for practitioners? There is good reason to develop clinical services to help animal hoarders deal with their psychological or psychiatric problems.

scholarly journals Experiences of maternity care in New South Wales among women with mental health conditions

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Corscadden ◽  
E. J. Callander ◽  
S. M. Topp ◽  
D. E. Watson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Maternity Care ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Mental Health Conditions ◽  
South Wales

How Opening Specialist Camhs Inpatient Units Affected the Flow of Juvenile Admissions to Adult Psychiatric and Paediatric Medical Units in New South Wales, Australia

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
pp. 571
Author(s):  
P. Hazell ◽  
T. Sprague ◽  
K. Feilds ◽  
J. Sharpe
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Inpatient Units

Involuntary admissions under the Mental Health Act 2007 (New South Wales): A comparison of patients detained by ambulance officers, medical practitioners and accredited persons in an emergency department

2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 544-549 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawn Cutler ◽  
Mechelle Smith ◽  
Timothy Wand ◽  
Timothy Green ◽  
Michael Dinh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Medical Practitioners ◽  
Mental Health Act ◽  
South Wales
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