scholarly journals The use of the Mental Health Act in learning disabilities

1996 ◽  
Vol 20 (10) ◽  
pp. 596-598 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Kon ◽  
Nick Bouras
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Learning Disabilities ◽  
Current Practice ◽  
The South ◽  
Violent Behaviour ◽  
Mental Impairment ◽  
Young Males ◽  
Mental Health Act

Psychiatrists in learning disabilities in the South-East Thames Region were asked to fill in questionnaires on the last five patients they had sectioned in an attempt to describe current practice in their usage of the Mental Health Act (1983). Clients tended to be sectioned under the category of mental impairment and were mainly young males with violent behaviour. Treatment of mental illness was less of a problem.

scholarly journals Preliminary evaluation of supervised discharge order in the South and West Region

1998 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 421-423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damian Mohan ◽  
Chris Thompson ◽  
Mark A. Mullee
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Preliminary Evaluation ◽  
The South ◽  
Mental Impairment ◽  
Forensic Patients ◽  
Mental Health Act ◽  
West Region ◽  
After Care ◽  
Mental Health Patients

Six months after the introduction of the Mental Health (Patients in the Community) Act 1995, this study shows that the new legislation has been implemented in its first six months of existence. Lack of resources and increased paperwork are identified by some doctors as reasons for their reluctance to proceed with implementation of supervised discharge. Patients who were placed on supervised discharge were found to be mostly young, mentally ill patients previously detained under Section 3 of the Mental Health Act 1983, as yet, the 1995 Act does not appear to have been implemented in the after care of ‘forensic’ patients or those with mental impairment.

Section 48: an underused provision?

1992 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Exworthy ◽  
Janet M. Parrott ◽  
Paul K. Bridges
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Medical Treatment ◽  
Mental Impairment ◽  
The Past ◽  
Mental Health Act ◽  
Secretary Of State

Section 48 of the Mental Health Act, 1983 (MHA) permits the Secretary of State to authorise the removal to hospital of an unsentenced prisoner who is ‘suffering from mental illness or severe mental impairment of a nature or degree which makes it appropriate for him to be detained in a hospital for medical treatment and that he is in urgent need of such treatment’. (Mental Health Act, 1983). Its common usage in the past has been in transfers of unsentenced prisoners from prison to hospital.

Learning disability and the Scottish Mental Health Act

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 74-82
Author(s):  
Heather Welsh ◽  
Gary Morrison
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Learning Disabilities ◽  
Mental Disorder ◽  
Learning Disability ◽  
Psychotic Disorders ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mental Health Legislation ◽  
Scottish Government ◽  
Health Legislation

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the use of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 for people with learning disabilities in Scotland, in the context of the recent commitment by the Scottish Government to review the place of learning disability (LD) within the Act. Design/methodology/approach All current compulsory treatment orders (CTO) including LD as a type of mental disorder were identified and reviewed. Data was collected on duration and type of detention (hospital or community based) for all orders. For those with additional mental illness and/or personality disorder, diagnoses were recorded. For those with LD only, symptoms, severity of LD and treatment were recorded. Findings In total, 11 per cent of CTOs included LD as a type of mental disorder. The majority of these also included mental illness. The duration of detention for people with LD only was almost double that for those without LD. A variety of mental illness diagnoses were represented, psychotic disorders being the most common (54 per cent). Treatment was broad and multidisciplinary. In all, 87 per cent of people with LD only were prescribed psychotropic medication authorised by CTO. Originality/value There has been limited research on the use of mental health legislation for people with learning disabilities. This project aids understanding of current practice and will be of interest to readers both in Scotland and further afield. It will inform the review of LD as a type of mental disorder under Scottish mental health law, including consideration of the need for specific legislation.

R v Westwood (Thomas): diminished responsibility and disposals under the Mental Health Act 1983

2021 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean Mennim
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
England And Wales ◽  
Mental Health Act ◽  
Court Of Appeal ◽  
Diminished Responsibility

This is a commentary on R v Westwood (Thomas), where the Court of Appeal of England and Wales held that the judge had erred in assessing Westwood’s ‘retained responsibility’ as medium to high under the Sentencing Council Guideline for manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. Although the sentencing judge concluded that the offending was caused by Westwood’s anger, the Court of Appeal found the psychiatric evidence clearly indicated that the most significant factor was Westwood’s mental illness and that his anger at the time of the offence was a manifestation of his mental illness. Westwood’s responsibility was low, and it was appropriate to impose both a hospital and restriction order.  

scholarly journals Adolescent units: a need for change?

2003 ◽  
Vol 27 (8) ◽  
pp. 292-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Calton ◽  
Jon Arcelus
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychiatric Diagnosis ◽  
Adjustment Disorder ◽  
General Purpose ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Violent Behaviour ◽  
Mental Health Act

Aims and MethodTo describe the characteristics and diagnoses of patients admitted to a general adolescent psychiatric in-patient unit. We describe the age, gender and psychiatric diagnosis of the patient, as well as whether the patient exhibited violent behaviour in the ward, whether he/she needed to be transferred to a different service and whether he/she was admitted under a section of the Mental Health Act 1983.ResultsPatients were evenly distributed in terms of gender, with most being 14–16 years old. Diagnoses were varied with adjustment disorder predominating, but could be separated into four main groups. Levels of violence were high, being associated with detention under the Mental Health Act 1983, and often resulted in transfer to another service.Clinical ImplicationsThe needs of certain adolescents admitted to a general-purpose adolescent unit may not be best met in this environment. Current services must change to meet the needs of their patients. There may be a need for greater specialisation.

scholarly journals Mental health services for adults with learning disabilities

2004 ◽  
Vol 184 (4) ◽  
pp. 291-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick Bouras ◽  
Geraldine Holt
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Learning Disabilities ◽  
Mental Retardation ◽  
Personality Disorders ◽  
Community Care ◽  
Mental Handicap ◽  
Adults With Learning Disabilities ◽  
The Uk

Services for people with learning disabilities have been transformed since the late 1960s by the move from institutional to community care. (Learning disabilities is the term currently used in the UK in preference to mental retardation, developmental disabilities and mental handicap.) Important changes include the progress towards integration, participation, inclusion and choice for people with learning disabilities, which have occurred in the context of the broader civil and human rights movements. It is time to examine the services delivered to people with learning disabilities and comorbid psychiatric disorders (mental illness, personality disorders, behavioural problems with aggression) and the evidence for their effectiveness.

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