forensic

Following on from the news that people with mental health problems are now less likely to kill themselves, it now transpires that they’re also less likely to kill other people too

The Guardian’s Bad Science columnist Ben Goldacre picks up the story, and makes some interesting observations on the attitudes of the media to mental illness and violence.
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Mr Man’s Wife raises discussion on the “Austrian cellar man”

Stories such as this one infuriate me. Once again we have a lawyer who is paid far too much money to try to find a way of reducing the punishment of a man who has undeniably committed a heinous crime, and the best he can come up with is “he couldn’t help it; he’s mentally ill”.

Previously on mentalnurse there has been debate on the pathologising of behaviour and it’s not a simple argument to resolve. We are, on one hand, a product of everything we are and experience; but, on the other, as humans we have ability to rationalise and, ergo, we can exercise choice.

This juxtaposition has been something of a burden for mental health law for many years - at what point does someone cease to be culpable?

MMW again;

Are we going to get to the stage where no crime is punishable? Will every crime be attributed to mental illness? Will all murderers, rapists, and paedophiles be regarded as victims of illness rather than bad people? Where does it end?

In my opinion, it doesn’t really matter: If they do something against society - they lose their right to be a part of it. What needs to change is how we deal with those who offend our social laws and values.

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(Guest post by markyjones)

I am a nurse working in a locked ward in Anglia region. (I’d rather not give name of hospital). We have a patient on a section 37/41 order who has been granted unescorted town leave. I think she is an abscond risk (others disagree with me). She can take her passport and credit card in her posession as doc thinks she has ‘capacity’ to manage own affairs. If she absconds abroad can we get her back? I know section 18 covers retaking her while she is still in the UK but what if she gets on a plane? Much debate among colleagues, but I think MHA 1983 ceases to be effective once absconder leaves country. Police cannot issue a European Arrest Warrant unless she commits a crime. Anyone any ideas on this one?

For nearly three years now I’ve been a humble student nurse. In just four months, I’ll be leaving the world of academentia to become a slightly-less-humble staff nurse. Scary thought, eh?

With that, I can now break the news that I’ve been offered my first Proper Actual Job as a mental health nurse.

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