Mental health - Consent, the law and depression - Management in emergency settings

Abstract

This paper has considered definitions of mental disorder and key aspects of the MHA with particular emphasis on valid consent. Mental illness, its assessment and referral pathways within the pre-hospital setting have been considered, with particular emphasis on depression and deliberate self harm. A future article will consider psychoses, personality disorders and dementia in more detail. Mental illness is hugely debilitating for many patients; taking huge toll on their families and carers. Detailed assessment and early referral can help in the early diagnosis of mental disorder (leading to greatly enhanced prognosis); and to early intervention in relapse or crisis situations. The development of mental health CRHTTs and ED liaison teams, the advent of the Primary Care Gateway (Link) Worker and of the Emergency Care Practitioner is supporting enhanced referral and greater coherence within the patient pathway. It is hoped that this paper will enable pre-hospital care practitioners to identify and assess the person with depression with greater confidence and to be aware of additional referral pathways available for these patients.