Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7fkt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T06:04:13.779Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Has the Mental Health Act 2001 altered the clinical profile of involuntary admissions?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Ivan Murray ,
Brian Hallahan  and
Colm McDonald
Ivan Murray*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny, Ireland
Brian Hallahan
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Science Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway, Ireland
Colm McDonald
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Science Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway, Ireland
*
*Correspondence E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objectives: To assess whether transition from the Mental Treatment Act (MTA), 1945 to the Mental Health Act (MHA), 2001 has had any impact on the clinical profile of patients in the West Galway Mental Health Services who are admitted on an involuntary basis.

Methods: Data were collected from clinical records in relation to all those individuals residing in the West Galway Mental Health Services who were admitted involuntarily in the 12 months prior to and subsequent to the introduction of the MHA 2001.

Results: A total of 175 individuals were included in this study (n = 91 - MTA 1945; and n = 84 - MHA 2001). No significant differences were found between the two groups in relation to demographic data, rates of involuntary detention or duration of involuntary detention. The applicant was less likely to be a family member under the MHA 2001 (54%) than the MTA 1945 (85%).

Conclusions: Transition from the MTA 1945 to the MHA 2001 has had minimal impact on the admission rates, clinical profile or duration of detention of patients admitted involuntarily in the West Galway Mental Health Services.

Keywords

Mental Health ActMental Treatment ActInvoluntary detention
Type
Original Papers
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 26 , Issue 4 , December 2009 , pp. 179 - 182
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Department of Health and Children. The Mental Health Act. Dublin: The Government Stationery Office, 2001.Google Scholar
2.Department of Health and Children. The Mental Treatment Act. Dublin: The Government Stationery Office, 1945Google Scholar
3.Council for Civil Liberties. Submission on the first report by Ireland under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. c 1993 [cited 2007 Nov 10th] Available from http://iccl.ie/DB_Data/publications/ICCPR93.pdfGoogle Scholar
4.Law Society Reform Committee. Mental Health: The case for reform. Law Society of Ireland, c 1999 [cited 2007 Nov 12th] Available from http://www.lawsociety.ie/newsite/documents/members/mentalhealthlGoogle Scholar
5.Brichard, K. Involuntary psychiatric admissions much higher in Ireland, says report. Lancet 2005; 356: 2076.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6.United Nations. Principles for the Protection of Persons with Mental Illness and for the improvement of Mental Health Care. United Nations General Assembly 1991; 46th session, Item No 98(b).Google Scholar
7.Council of Europe. The European convention on human rights. Brussels: Council of Europe, 1953Google Scholar
8.Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. European Convention on Human Rights Act. Dublin: The Government Stationery Office, 2004Google Scholar
9.Kelly, B. The Irish Mental Health Act 2001. Psychiatr Bull 2007; 31: 21–24.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10.Anter, K, Daly, W, Owens, J. Implementing the Mental Health Act 2001: what should be done? what must be done? Ir J Psych Med 2005; 22: 79–82.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11.Central Statistics Office. Census 2006 report vol 1: population classified by area. First release c 2007 [cited 2008 May 28]. Available on www.cso.ie/census/Census2006ResultsGoogle Scholar
12.Mental Health Commission. Annual report 2007 - book 1. c 2008 [cited 2008 Jun 12th] Available from www.mhcirl.ie/annualreportsGoogle Scholar
13.Smith, H, White, T. Before and after: introduction of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) 2003. Psychiatr Bull 2007; 31: 374–377.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
14.Harding, TW. Human rights law in the field of mental health: a critical review. Acta Psychiatr Scand Suppl 2000; 399: 24–30.Google Scholar