Forensic Mental Health: An Examination of Criminal Psychology Links

This report delves into the critical relationship between forensic mental health and criminal psychology, exploring how mental states influence criminal behavior. The introduction defines forensic mental health and its role in evaluating individuals facing legal issues due to mental disorders. The main body examines the impact of mental illnesses like non-psychotic and psychotic disorders, and the treatments such as psychotherapy and cognitive therapy. It discusses the significance of forensic mental health services, including risk management, treatment approaches, and legal considerations. The report highlights the importance of early intervention, awareness, and the need for comprehensive care to address mental health issues within the criminal justice system, emphasizing the importance of treatment and support to prevent harm and promote recovery. The report also touches on the societal perceptions and challenges within the field, advocating for a shift towards treatment and support over mere incarceration. This includes an analysis of the services provided by NHS and the importance of risk assessment and management for those with mental illness, especially those with a propensity for violence. The report emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to forensic mental health that prioritizes patient care, legal considerations, and the broader societal impact.

Forensic Mental Health

Table of Contents
STUDY QUESTION.......................................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

STUDY QUESTION
How forensic mental health is associated with the criminal psychology?
INTRODUCTION
Forensic mental health is defined as the investigation which is related to mental state of
any person. In this, they used to create a panel of interrogation which is help to analyse the
condition of any person. Nowadays, people are suffering from several mental problems that
brings anxiety, stress and become a major reason of depression. There are several individuals
who are suffering with mental illness, disorders and other issues which need to be address in
proper manner. There are several therapies are provided by psychiatrists so that people can come
out from mental disorder. Forensic mental health refers to the service that is provided by
psychiatrists so that people can come out from mental illness, depression and anxiety. Here,
service providers evaluate the behaviour of individuals on regular basis in order to know any
kind of criminal offense done by them. The current report comprises literature review which
include detailed information gathered by researchers on forensic mental health. For the present
report, information has been gathered from articles, journals and websites. Moreover, it renders
an overall prospective about forensic management, its principles and several approaches that are
used by health workers so that people can overcome from this problem.
MAIN BODY
According to Barnao, Ward and Casey, (2016), forensic mental health has become a
crucial aspect of health nowadays. This provide a brief knowledge about any individual who is
facing various issue related to mental forensic. It is a way to serve those people who are suffering
from major mental problems. These people are either undergoing with any king of legal issues
and court proceedings as they have been involved in legal offense or their present behaviour may
harm other persons. So, it is essential to evaluate the behaviour of those person on regular basis.
Forensic mental health plays a crucial role in handling those individuals as they are at higher risk
of harm others. It is analysed that most of the forensic health services are run by NHS that is
health board of Scotland. Forensic mental health is related to mental illness that is divided in two
parts such as non-psychotic illness and Psychotic illness. Here, non-psychotic illness is related to
felling of sadness, anxiety, tension and difficulties that are faced by an individual in daily life.
There is some example of this disorder such as phobia, obsessive compulsive disorder and more.

On another side, Psychotic illness is related to delusion, hallucination and other disorders that
mat make a person mentally unstable. There are several kind of support are provided to
individuals who are suffering with mental disorder. Here, presentment is given to some patients
who are at higher risk and may harm other persons. There are numerous kind of treatment is
provided to patients of mental health. They can be treated with medicines such as antidepressants
and other with an aim to improve the health condition of individuals. Counselling sessions are
also arranged for patients where they get an opportunity of one to one interaction that is essential
to reduce feeling of isolation and loneliness. Generally, these individuals wish to have someone
around them with whom they can share feelings, emotions and get necessary suggestions. It is
necessary to provide them feeling of belongingness so that they can come out from depression. It
is analysed that controlling authorities of mental health provide several services with an aim to
help individuals who are suffering with major mental issues. They provide funds for public and
mental health services and also arrange ample of court based assessments and programs. In
addition, people also take assistance from psychiatrists to deal with this problem.
According to Byrne and Ghráda, (2019), there are several changes are being witnessed in
the behaviour of a human being that become a cause depression and anxiety. Stalking is also a
variable that is also related to change in behaviour. It refers to analyse the activities of a person
on continuous basis in order to monitor their performance. It is also a sign of mental illness when
an individual stalk other it may affect the daily life of that person. Here, it can be done by simply
following a person and monitor their social media platform on regular basis. This kind of
behaviour may create threat in another person that their personal life is in danger. There are
several methods to deal with this kind of forensic mental health issues. It can be done through
education, psychotherapy and Cognitive therapy. The proper control on brain is necessary to
control behaviour which is help them to do their proper work, when the mental condition of any
individual is not good and not in normal mode, this create various resonant effect in their work
and module of learning.
Psychotherapy is a way to treat patients by providing them proper counselling. Here,
psychiatrist talk with patients and try to know their mental states, feeling, conditions and
emotions while undertake any kind of violent activity. It is analysed that mentally ill person can
harm themselves and other person too thus it is essential to provide them right treatment. There
are numerous kind of psychotherapies can be provided to an individual that depends on their

respective situation. Here, it is also known as talk therapy, counselling and simply therapy. In
addition, this therapy is helpful to deal with several problems such as anxiety disorder, mood
disorder, addictions and other problems that are sign of mental disorder. It is not only helpful for
those people who are mentally ill but also used by other individuals to reduce down stress level.
Here, another therapy is cognitive therapy is based on present thinking, behaviour and
communication of individuals. Here, past experiences are not gives more importance. It is
monitored that this therapy is based on problem solving approach. It is also known as
behavioural therapy as it has been formulating to help individuals as per their behaviour. This
therapy is used to meet with several problems such as anxiety, depression, fear, personality
disorder and other problems. So, it is also essential to spread awareness among individuals
regarding mental problems so that they approach to therapist in order to resolve their issues in
timely manner. Further, there are numerous ways can be used by patients to deal with mental
illness in significant manner. Therefore, psychotherapy, cognitive therapies are considering as
an essential approach to deal with mental disorder. This theory helps the individual to access
their feeling and emotion. As per this, they activate their though porcess and analyse various
thing which help to recover fast.
According to Dalhuisen, Koenraadt and Liem, (2017), people who are mentally ill come in
the contract of any legal issues, known as forensic mental health. In this, forensic is related to the
laws, rules and regulations. Here, at the time when a court found a mental ill person guilty of any
kind of offensive activity and send individual to hospital for forensic mental health program so
that they get proper mental health care. There are several legal experts are also appointed by
higher authorities who review the facilities, treatments provided to patients. Here, Main aim of
these services to improve in health of individuals so that they can stay in community peacefully.
Forensic mental health is a crucial filed of mental health. It comprises continuous assessment and
treatment to those individuals who are suffering with and kind of mental illness. Due to current
life style people remain highly tense, anxious that further become a reason of mental disorder.
Sometimes, these people undertake several violent activities and can harm themselves and also
other person. When positive attribute of any person is being change due to their mental activity,
this will create various hindrance process make the individual violent and instigate them to do
crime or formulate the thought of commit crime.

It is not necessary that all the patients are at higher risk. Here, higher risk individuals who
may prove violent for other are required to keep in hospitals, prisons separate from society. Here,
patients are required to provide necessary treatment and constant assistance so that they do not
feel alone. During mental illness people feel to boycott from society and feel inferior which may
further become a reason on higher mental problems thus it need to address in proper manner.
There are necessary counselling sessions are arranged for patients so that they can come out from
mental disorder. It is analysed that there is huge amount is required to treat such patients. Here, it
is essential to assess the progress in the behaviour of individuals on regular basis during care
pathway so that necessary improvements can be undertake for stable mental health of patients.
Services of forensic mental health are flexible enough in order to meet with complex needs of
patients while they are at lower risk and living among community and are at higher risk & kept
in prisons, hospitals. So, forensic mental health is a services which need to provide in an efficient
manner with an aim to improve health conditions of people. The health condition of individual is
an indication for those who take the life casual but forensic service is implemented in such a way
which develop and capture the various process which is drive a person in appropriate way to
tackle form this situation.
According to Paul E. Mullen, (2018), forensic mental health refers to a field of psychiatry
which in criminal domain involves analysis and treatment of mentally ill patients which are or
can be threat to public safety. In civilian domain, this field includes analysing and providing
medical care to individuals with mental disorders along with advising authorities of the justice
system about their physical and mental capabilities and giving them accurate clinical information
about patient's conditions during legal proceedings. The exact limits of forensic mental health
services are not clearly defined due to social fear created by offender having history of mental
health issues. This state is further pushed due to the inability of civil mental health services to
protect their patients from possible offenders.
Evaluation and management of risk associated with potentially violent patient during the
course of their medical treatment is an essential component of forensic mental health. This
process includes identification of variables that may trigger violent response and mediation of
the patient in an environment which is designed to minimise violent tendencies. The
identification of potential offenders from mental health patients is a complicated issue. Risk
management involves taking appropriate measures to minimise the risk of a patient identified to

be dangerous to the society in the future. Forensic mental health professionals face a challenge
in moving their risk management practices beyond solitary confinement as this would halt their
journey towards becoming a healthy person. The focus of activities related to risk management
of offenders with mental disorders should switch from controlling the patient towards providing
support carefully constructed treatments for their rapid recovery. Incarceration is justified from
legal standpoint but should be adopted by forensic mental health professionals only if it helps in
recovery of the patient and should not be used as an option to medical treatments. The lack of
concern regarding forensic mental health services has led to construction of prison like mental
health institutions throughout the UK which are built to isolate patients from outside world
without giving them proper medical care. This has not only weakened progress of this
psychiatric field but also created a social stigma in courtrooms against offenders with mental
disorders.
According to Freedman and Zaami, (2019), forensic mental health has helped switch
previously held public opinion about relation between violence and mental health issues, the
research suggested that practices which are used in general mental health services should be
adopted by the forensic health services. Various reports suggest links between violent behaviour
of mental health patients to substance abuse. Three types of relationships between substance
abuse and mental health are depicted by research which is mental health patients which showcase
violent behaviour after substance abuse, violent mental health offenders who happen to consume
such substance, and delay in progress of offenders with mental health issues due to substance
abuse. Objective of treatment given to violent offenders should centre the idea of rehabilitation
by using risk management techniques which improve life of the patient by reducing their violent
behaviour.
As per this, the people with the criminal justice which play significantly which is higher
in rates of the mental illness and mental disorder. As per this, they are used to take with prior.
People with the mental illness are used take the custody and sentenced to the imprisonment or to
become victim of crime. People may have referred this type of assessment the people as per this
they police, courts and prison and various justice agencies. The mental state of some offender or
alleged offender. This may need proper assessed for a variety of reason. They are used to capable
of thinking of making the plea in court. Their state of mind at the time of offence and the current
mood and need for the mental health treatment.

This is defined as the violence which is used to cause various injury which can lead to
death but also they include number of factor which is cause serious, physical, psychological or
the social problem. This is associated with the individual, families and society. As per this, the
violence create an additional factor which is show the collective violence. This include the
various type of interpersonal violence which is related with the both as with family and violence
within the community and associated with the victim.

CONCLUSION
From above discussion, it is analysed that forensic mental health is crucial part of health
science. It helps individuals to overcome from mental illness that may become a reason of any
kind of legal offense. There are several therapies are provide by psychiatrist such as counselling
session s and more in order to make improvement in health condition of patients. Discussion has
been carried out regarding several mental patients those are at higher risk and may farm to other
persons. Moreover, forensic mental health is essential to ensure better mental health of
individuals.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Barnao, M., Ward, T. and Casey, S., 2016. Taking the good life to the institution: Forensic
service users’ perceptions of the Good Lives Model. International journal of offender
therapy and comparative criminology, 60(7), pp.766-786.
Byrne, G. and Ghráda, Á.N., 2019. The application and adoption of four ‘third
wave’psychotherapies for mental health difficulties and aggression within correctional
and forensic settings: A systematic review. Aggression and violent behavior, 46, pp.45-
55.
Dalhuisen, L., Koenraadt, F. and Liem, M., 2017. Subtypes of firesetters. Criminal behaviour
and mental health, 27(1), pp.59-75.
de Vogel, V. and Lancel, M., 2016. Gender differences in the assessment and manifestation of
psychopathy: Results from a multicenter study in forensic psychiatric
patients. International Journal of Forensic Mental Health, 15(1), pp.97-110.
de Vogel, V. and Louppen, M., 2016. Measuring feelings of staff members towards their most
complex female and male forensic psychiatric patients: A pilot study into gender
differences. International journal of forensic mental health, 15(2), pp.174-185.
Freedman, D. and Zaami, S., 2019. Neuroscience and mental state issues in forensic
assessment. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 65, p.101437.
Fromberger, P., Jordan, K. and Müller, J.L., 2018. Virtual reality applications for diagnosis, risk
assessment and therapy of child abusers. Behavioral sciences & the law, 36(2), pp.235-
244.
Goulet, M.H., Larue, C. and Dumais, A., 2017. Evaluation of seclusion and restraint reduction
programs in mental health: a systematic review. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 34,
pp.139-146.
Guy, L.S. and Zelechoski, A.D., 2017. Civil forensic assessment. In Handbook of Forensic
Mental Health Services (pp. 104-130). Routledge.
Jahnke, S., 2018. The stigma of pedophilia: Clinical and forensic implications. European
Psychologist, 23(2), p.144.
Landess, J. and Holoyda, B., 2017. Mental health courts and forensic assertive community
treatment teams as correctional diversion programs. Behavioral sciences & the
law, 35(5-6), pp.501-511.
Morris, K., 2020. 13 Occupational engagement in forensic settings. Illuminating The Dark Side
of Occupation: International Perspectives from Occupational Therapy and
Occupational Science.
Reed, A.L. and Zapf, P.A., 2017. Criminal forensic assessment. In Handbook of Forensic Mental
Health Services (pp. 79-103). Routledge.
Roesch, R. and Zapf, P.A., 2016. Forensic psychology. In APA handbook of clinical psychology:
Roots and branches, Vol. 1 (pp. 279-303). American Psychological Association.
Salekin, R.T., Grimes, R.D. and Adams, E.W., 2016. Clinical forensic evaluations for juvenile
transfer to adult criminal court.
Shepherd, S.M. and Lewis-Fernandez, R., 2016. Forensic risk assessment and cultural diversity:
Contemporary challenges and future directions. Psychology, Public Policy, and
Law, 22(4), p.427.

Stevenson, C. and Taylor, J., 2020. Nurses' Perspectives of Factors That Influence Therapeutic
Relationships in Secure Inpatient Forensic Hospitals. Journal of forensic nursing, 16(3),
pp.169-178.
Tomlinson, M.F., 2018. A theoretical and empirical review of dialectical behavior therapy within
forensic psychiatric and correctional settings worldwide. International Journal of
Forensic Mental Health, 17(1), pp.72-95.
Wanamaker, K.A., Jones, N.J. and Brown, S.L., 2018. Strengths-based assessments for use with
forensic populations: A critical review. International Journal of Forensic Mental
Health, 17(2), pp.202-221.
Winstone, J. ed., 2016. Mental health, crime and criminal justice: responses and reforms.
Springer.