'From the centre out': Forensic mental health assessment by videoconference to remote courts in WA
The State Forensic Mental Health Service (SFMHS) is located 'centrally' in Perth metropolitan area and provides a range of services to severely mentally ill persons involved in the criminal justice system within Western Australia.
Western Australia is approximately 2.5 million square Kilometres (11 times bigger than Victoria and 37 time bigger than Tasmania) with a population of 2,000,000, 80% in Perth metropolitan area and remainder in smaller and some remote communities throughout the state.
One role of SFMHS is to provide forensic mental health assessment to those who have been arrested and are to appear before courts. Under the Criminal Law (Mentally Impaired Accused) Act 1996 a Magistrate in any court can remand a person to the SFMHS inpatient unit, the Frankland Centre in Perth, for psychiatric assessment. The SFMHS Community/Court Liaison program provides mental health nurses to Perth courts to provide assessments and make recommendations to Magistrates. This assists preventing persons being referred into secure facilities if unwarranted.
There has been pressure for these services provided to more remote areas however because of the tyranny of distance and low need, a similar service could not be provided.
SFMHS introduced initial assessments and reports by mental health nurses utilising 'tele-psychiatry' through videoconferencing from the SFMHS Perth clinic to the remote courts. This therefore provides this service 'from the centre out'.
This program has been successful in providing:-
· Increased accessibility to specialised forensic psychiatry services.
· Timely, accurate assessment and advice.
· Prevention of long distance transportation.
· Prevention of unnecessary admissions.
· Cost effectiveness.
This poster outlines reasons this program was required, how the program was introduced, how the program operates and the results of the evaluation of program.