Involuntary Community Mental Health Clients: Issues of Engagement and Beyond
The Australian context for the control of people affected by mental illness is regulated by state legislation. In New South Wales, the Mental Health Act (1990) provides for the option of involuntary inpatients to continue this legal status by discharge on a Community treatment Order, which is administered by the local Health Care Agency.
A Community Treatment Order is made for a maximum period of six months, with a view to individuals coming to terms with their diagnosis and need for treatment, however a provision does exist for renewal of the order if the Health Care Agency feels the client is not ready to take on this personal responsibility for their illness management. Many find themselves subjected to a Comunity Treatment Order for extended periods of time, some with limited prospects of life beyond such as order. This situation poses considerable delemmas for social workers and other like-minded professionals associated and involved in these interventions.
This paper will give a profile of clients currently subjected to a Community Treatment Order by one Health Care Agency and outline a model of engaging this marginalised group of people toward a view of enhancing their citizenship.