Perspectives on Mental Health Practice and Legal Compulsion

Examining the issues arising from the use of legal compulsion in mental health practice this text is an essential text for all those studying to become Approved Mental Health Practitioners and an important resource for those at all levels with an interest in mental health law and practice.

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The use of legal compulsion and coercion in the context of mental disorder is an area that has specific implications for mental health practitioners at the front line, both in hospital and in community settings. Orientated to deliver helpful and humane services, interventions and work to engage individuals in a voluntary relationship that contributes to their improvement, compulsory intervention may precipitate many challenges for the professionals involved.

Examining the issues arising from the use of legal compulsion in mental health practice this text is divided into three parts. It begins by exploring legal compulsion from a variety of perspectives, including those of medicine, social science, ethics and law as well as from the point of view of service users, families and carers. The second part discusses practice in relation to a range of settings and issues, including primary care, acute care units, forensic practice, community treatment, compulsory hospital admission and child welfare. Finally, the book outlines the state of practice and research internationally with chapters focusing on Europe, North America and Australasia.

Written by a team of expert practitioners and academics, this book is an essential text for all those studying to become Approved Mental Health Practitioners. It will also be an important resource for those at all levels with an interest in mental health law and practice.