Examining the role of psychiatrists in involuntary admissions under the Mental Health Act in New Zealand.
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| Title: | Examining the role of psychiatrists in involuntary admissions under the Mental Health Act in New Zealand. |
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| Authors: | Jenkins, Matthew (AUTHOR), Richly, Pablo (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Australasian Psychiatry. Jun2025, Vol. 33 Issue 3, p348-351. 4p. |
| Subjects: | Psychiatrists, Mental health laws, Capabilities approach (Social sciences), Medical care, Involuntary hospitalization, Concord |
| Geographic Terms: | New Zealand |
| Abstract: | Objectives: This perspective examines the role of psychiatrists in section 10 assessments under the Mental Health Act (MHA) in Aotearoa New Zealand, focusing on their involvement, concordance with preliminary assessments, and implications for service delivery. It also explores the potential impact of a capacity-based model. Methods: Data was requested from all 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) on section 10 assessments completed between July 2022 and July 2023, including how many resulted in a section 11 certificate. Response rates and concordance between section 8(b) and section 10 assessments were analyzed. Results: Data from six DHBs showed over 95% of section 10 assessments led to a section 11 certificate, demonstrating high concordance. Psychiatrists conducted most section 10 assessments. However, approximately 1 in 20 cases involved non-concordance, suggesting psychiatrist-led assessments serve as a critical safeguard. Conclusions: High concordance rates suggest inefficiencies, yet the 1 in 20 non-concordance highlights an important safeguard. Given psychiatrist shortages and after-hours workload, reconsideration of the MHA process is warranted. Possible reforms include streamlining assessments, enabling non-psychiatrist practitioners to conduct final evaluations in some cases, and adopting a capacity-based model to optimize service delivery while maintaining safeguards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Australasian Psychiatry is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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