Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Blue remembered skills: mental health awareness training for police officers
- Authors:
- CUMMINGS Ian, JONES Stuart
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Adult Protection, 12(3), August 2010, pp.14-19.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Police officers can have a key role to play in situations where individuals are experiencing some sort of crisis relating to their mental health. Despite the fact that this is a very important facet of day to day police work, it is an area that is neglected in police training. The Bradley Report has raised a number of important questions regarding the treatment of individuals who are experiencing mental health problems and find themselves in the criminal justice system. One of the key recommendations is that professional staff working across criminal justice organisations should receive increased training in this area. This paper outlines two approaches to the training of police officers in the mental health field. The first is a joint working initiative between Hywel NHS Trust and Dyfed Powys Police. In this training, all student officers receive 2 days training in first aid in mental health, and spend 4 days at the acute psychiatric unit where they become personally involved in the care of individuals who are experiencing acute distress. The second approach comprised a classroom-based training course directed at custody sergeants. The article goes on to consider the most effective models of training for police officers.
Mental Health Bill (HL): January 2007
- Author:
- GREAT BRITAIN. Parliament. House of Lords
- Publisher:
- Stationery Office
- Publication year:
- 2007
- Pagination:
- 131p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This Bill is to Amend the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005 in relation to mentally disordered persons; and for connected purposes.
Mentally disordered offenders: a joint inspection on work prior to sentence with offenders with mental disorders
- Authors:
- HM INSPECTORATE OF PROBATION, et al
- Publisher:
- HM Inspectorate of Probation
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 56p.
- Place of publication:
- Manchester
This inspection focused on cases involving offenders who have been identified prior to sentence as having a mental disorder, and how these cases have been handled in practice. The inspectors found that neither criminal justice nor health professionals were in favour of diverting an increased number of offenders from prosecution. Most felt that the majority should take responsibility for their actions, and that treatment should be combined with rather than instead of court action. However, in the minority of cases who were suitable for diversion, there did appear to be scope for greater efficiency by diverting these earlier in the process, before they got to the court stage. Most of the areas visited would also benefit from a better quality and more timely psychiatric report service once at the court stage. More generally, it was clear that treatment did help some current offenders to stop offending, so sustained access to treatment continues to be very important.
Coercion and consent: monitoring the Mental Health Act 2007–2009: Mental Health Act Commission thirteenth biennial report 2007-2009
- Author:
- MENTAL HEALTH ACT COMMISSION
- Publisher:
- Stationery Office
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 248p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This report begins with a review of the last 3 years in mental health. Sections then cover the Act in context and in practice, consent to treatment, the Act and mentally disordered offenders, and deaths of detained patients.
National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness. Annual report: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. October 2017
- Author:
- NATIONAL CONFIDENTIAL INQUIRY INTO SUICIDE AND HOMICIDE BY PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS
- Publisher:
- University of Manchester
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 132
- Place of publication:
- Manchester
Presents data and analysis on suicide, homicides and sudden unexplained deaths in the UK between 2005 and 2015, focusing on mental health. As well as providing data for the individual countries of the UK, it also provides UK-wide data for suicide in people with eating disorders, autism spectrum disorders, people living with dementia, carers and members of the armed forces. The report also makes recommendations for clinical practice to improve safety in mental health care. Key findings show that there were 1,538 patient suicides in the UK in 2015. Northern Ireland has the highest general population suicide rate, while the rates in the other countries have fallen. There have also been downward trends in the number of suicides by patients recently discharged from hospital in England and Scotland; and suicide by mental health in-patients. Messages to improve mental health care include a renewed emphasis on suicide prevention on in-patient wards; for services to build on the recent fall in suicide following discharge from in-patient care; and for a greater focus on alcohol and drug misuse as a key component of risk management in mental health care. (Edited publisher abstract)
Guidance on responding to people with mental ill health or learning disabilities
- Author:
- NATIONAL POLICING IMPROVEMENT AGENCY
- Publisher:
- National Policing Improvement Agency
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 208p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
This guidance provides advice to help police respond more effectively to people who are experiencing mental ill health or who have a learning disability. The guidance is a comprehensive document, providing advice on needs that arise in either a criminal justice capacity (where the person is a victim, witness, suspect or offender) or in a health care capacity (where the police may be acting in support of others who are dealing with someone experiencing a mental health crisis). The separate sections of the guidance cover: general operational guidance; mental health principles; operational police responses to victims and witnesses; use of police powers under the Mental Health Act 1983 and Mental Capacity Act 2005; operational police responses to suspects and offenders; and managing police responses. An aim of the guidance is to support more people with mental ill health being accommodated in health facilities rather than in police custody through better implementation of the Mental Health Act 1983. It also aims to provide an improved response to victims, witnesses, suspects and offenders leading to a reduction in repeat victimisation and offending, and increased reporting to the police of crimes against people with mental ill health or learning disabilities (including discrimination, victimisation and harassment).
What are the barriers and facilitators to running an employment scheme for offenders?
- Author:
- KEIL Joanna
- Journal article citation:
- Prison Service Journal, 189, May 2010, pp.15-20.
- Publisher:
- Her Majesty's Prison Service of England and Wales
This article looks at the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health’s study on employment opportunities for offenders with mental health problems, and identifies barriers and facilitators observed during 32 visits to 8 prisons, 4 probation areas, 10 voluntary agencies, 2 forensic services, 1 police-led scheme and 1 employer. Support was diverse and dependent on where an offender was within the criminal justice system. Some prisons have departments offering NVQ training in catering skills (e.g. HMP Durham, Newcastle College and Marriot Hotels), invite voluntary organisations (e.g. Thames Reach) to provide ‘through the gate’ support, use release on temporary licence (ROTL) to allow work experience (e.g. HMP Dartmoor and the Forestry Commission), and have individual placement schemes. The probation service plays a role in some, geographical areas. Some schemes observed were specifically for ex-offenders, people with mental health problems or the homeless. Barriers included lack of awareness/support of mental health problems by schemes and employers, ROTL, schemes too focused on training while in prison, poor continuity on release and poor outcomes. Facilitators included support once employed, payment of ex-offenders, involvement of employers within prisons, and motivated and enthusiastic professionals. There was evidence of the social exclusion of mentally disordered offenders from some schemes, and poor support, when accepted onto employment training. Good practice, by some employers was seen and often yielded successful employment outcomes for those with mental health problems.
The Bradley Report and the criminal justice workforce: tackling mental health and learning disabilities in the justice system
- Authors:
- SAINSBURY CENTRE FOR MENTAL HEALTH, SKILLS FOR JUSTICE
- Publisher:
- Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health; Skills for Justice
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 4p.
- Place of publication:
- London
In April 2009, the Bradley Report was published, making 82 recommendations which should lead to major changes in the way that individuals with mental health issues and those with learning disabilities in the criminal justice system are supported and treated. Thirty of the 82 recommendations have direct implications for the criminal justice workforce. This briefing paper outlines 4 key areas where significant activity is needed to develop the justice sector workforce to meet the ambitions and aims arising from the Bradley Report. The 4 key areas are: training in mental health and learning disability awareness for practitioners across the system; working together across agencies to treat individuals going through the system consistently and fairly; communicating information more effectively and efficiently so that individuals are not constantly reassessed or shuttled between services; and national workforce planning. This report highlights the changes needed in the approach to training individuals across criminal justice agencies, and makes recommendations as to how to take the work forward.
A missed opportunity?: community sentences and the mental health treatment requirement
- Authors:
- KHANOM Husnara, SAMELE Chiara, RUTHERFORD Max
- Publisher:
- Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 44p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
The Mental Health Treatment Requirement (MHTR) is one of 12 options (‘requirements’) available to sentencers when constructing a Community Order or a Suspended Sentence Order. The MHTR can be given to an offender with mental health problems who does not require immediate compulsory hospital admission under the Mental Health Act. If they give their consent, the MHTR requires them to receive mental health treatment for a specified period. This report is based on an exploratory research project to examine the way in which the Mental Health Treatment Requirement is issued and the processes involved. It's secondary aims were: to explore the views of sentencers and identify the main problems that have prevented them from issuing the MHTR at the point of sentencing; to examine the Drug Rehabilitation Requirement for any lessons its operation may provide for improving the MHTR; to consider whether the MHTR is an effective, suitable and therapeutic form of diversion for offenders with mental health problems and to explore inter-agency working. Fifty six professionals working in the courts, in probation and in health services were interviewed about their experiences and knowledge of the MHTR. Results found many professionals lacked direct experience of the MHTR, and some were not aware of it at all. Professionals also had varied views about the purpose of the MHTR and the criteria for who should receive an MHTR were not clear.
Out of sight, out of mind: the state of mental healthcare in prison
- Authors:
- BROOKER Charlie, ULLMANN Ben
- Publisher:
- Policy Exchange
- Publication year:
- 2008
- Pagination:
- 44p.
- Place of publication:
- London
The prison population is at its highest ever. Of the 82,000 prisoners in England and Wales it is estimated that nine out of ten have one or more mental health disorders. Coverage includes public attitudes to offenders with mental illness, the offender mental healthcare; assessment of prison mental healthcare; and spending, staff and savings. It is argued that the findings of Lord Ramsbotham's 1996 report, which was heavily critical of prison healthcare services, are as relevant today as when they 12 years ago.