Queensland University Systematic Reflection: Mental Health Case Study

This report presents a systematic reflection on a mental health case involving Mrs. Blanche Duvall and three other patients. The student analyzes the state's handling of mentally unstable individuals, highlighting the lack of adequate care and facilities, particularly during the legal proceedings. The reflection emphasizes the ethical and moral implications of holding mentally ill patients in jail and the importance of timely, patient-centered treatment. The report discusses legal guidelines, the need for appropriate security measures, and the significance of mental health awareness. The student also emphasizes the role of healthcare providers and family members in providing effective clinical help, and the importance of promoting social awareness to improve the handling and acceptance of mental health patients. The report references various scholarly articles and the Mental Health Act 2016 to support its arguments.

Systematic Reflection- Mental Health
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Word Count: 893

Reporting
Mrs. Blanche Duvall has been convicted of murdering a former Chief of Police Al Miller.
Her case will be presented in front of a grand jury before sending her off to the any mental
correctional institute. The situation suggests that only after the verdict of the grand jury, the
three patients- John Neimi, Andrew Svensrud, and William Winters, as well as Mrs. Duvall
will be sent to the Oregon asylum for their treatment. It has been evaluated that the three
men, William Winters, John Neimi, Andrew Svensrud, can be provided with the right care
and medications to at least help them achieve partial recovery. Thus, helping these men
reach the mental asylum on time and avail the right treatments is crucial for their wellbeing
and speedy recovery.
One of the key issues that are highlighted in this situation is the lack of services for
providing enough care to them, during their stay in the jail. Not just the lack of care, but
also the lack of proper facilities and infrastructures. The main issue that was highlighted
throughout the process was that the three men, who were declared mentally unstable and
required immediate treatment, were held for the verdict of Mrs. Duvall. This showed the
states lack in efficient handling of mental patients, which could detrimentally affect their
mental health and wellbeing.
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Responding
Considering the situation presented, I feel that the state could have kept the three clinically
declared, mentally unstable patients in a nursing or care facility rather than in jail, while
waiting for the verdict of the grand jury on the Blanche Duvall case. Knowing the mental
state of these three patients, the state could have arranged other means to transport them to
the Oregon Asylum, rather than waiting for Mrs. Duvall. I feel that two of the men John
Neimi, and Andrew Svensrud, are mentally vulnerable and should have been assigned
personal care givers, in order to help them during their waiting period. Also, the decision
for putting them in the jail, while waiting for the verdict, is ethically and morally wrong.
This lack of attention and proper care, can negatively affect their mental health even more,
deteriorating their mental condition (Okasha, 2004). Time is very crucial while dealing with
individuals with mental illnesses. I feel they not only require proper, holistic treatment but
also in time, so as to help in their speedy recovery. This would not only increase patient
satisfaction but would also improve the overall health of the patients (Slate, 2010).
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Relating
Mental patients are often seen to lack appropriate mental awareness as well as efficient
decision making skills. Thus, in cases of treatments where their consent is required, the
medical professionals are required to strictly follow the legal guidelines and rules, in order
to help them avail the right treatment with dignity and respect (Griffith & Tengnah, 2011).
Considering that Mrs. Duvall is to be declared mentally unstable, given her violent
behavior leading to a murder, she needs to be given the most care and at least two guards
are needed to be assigned to her, in order for her to not harm herself or others (Shaw et al.,
1999). I feel it is necessary to efficiently evaluating her mental condition and behaviour
would help the healthcare professionals incorporate a respectable a dignified medical
approach in her care and treatment plan (Kilbourne et al., 218).
Thus, for organizing a team to handle these four patients, a matron and guards capable of
maintaining proper security outside the facility as well as taking proper care of the mental
patients is crucial (Hachtel et al., 2018).
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Reasoning
According to me, the main aim, when dealing with mental patients should be to protect
their mental well-being by treating them with respect and dignity, and help them make the
right decisions, especially those who lack the ability to give consent for treatment (WHO,
2019). The Mental Health Act 2016 not only safeguards the rights of people but also helps
promote the recovery of mentally unstable patients by providing them with the right
treatment procedures (health.gov, 2012). The Act is not only applicable to the three men
but also Mrs. Duvall, as it seeks to help the mentally unsound people not be imprisoned for
crimes they committed and instead seek the required medical help (Coggon, 2016). Thus,
keeping these in mind, I believe that the patients could be given proper patient-centered
treatments in order for them to improve their mental health.
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Reconstructing
Discussing about mental health is very important, especially to help the youths of the recent
generation, given the increased suicides and cases of depression and anxiety. I also learnt
that in order to provide them effective clinical help, healthcare providers, consultants as
well as their family members are required to take a holistic approach and find the reasons
behind their distress. As a nurse, I believe that the action plan will only be successful if it
incorporates the proper implementation and enforcement of the laws in order to help the
mentally unstable patients seek the required help, with dignity and respect (WHO, 2000).
Thus, I believe that the improvement in handling and acceptance of mental health patients
can only been observed, if there is an increase in the social awareness about the different
mental health issues and how to identify them and seek the right treatment (Ahmedani,
2011).
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References
Ahmedani, B. K. (2011). Mental health stigma: society, individuals, and the
profession. Journal of social work values and ethics, 8(2), 4-1. Retrieved from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3248273/
Coggon, J. (2016). Mental capacity law, autonomy, and best interests: an argument for
conceptual and practical clarity in the court of protection. Medical law
review, 24(3), 396-414. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/medlaw/fww034
Griffith, R., & Tengnah, C. (2011). Legal issues surrounding consent and capacity: the key
to autonomy. British journal of community nursing, 16(12), 611-614. doi:
https://doi.org/10.12968/bjcn.2011.16.12.611
Hachtel, H., Nixon, M., Bennett, D., Mullen, P., & Ogloff, J. (2018). Motives, offending
behavior, and gender differences in murder perpetrators with or without
psychosis. Journal of interpersonal violence, 0886260518774304. doi:
https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0886260518774304
Kilbourne, A. M., Beck, K., Spaeth‐Rublee, B., Ramanuj, P., O'Brien, R. W., Tomoyasu,
N., & Pincus, H. A. (2018). Measuring and improving the quality of mental health
care: a global perspective. World psychiatry, 17(1), 30-38. doi:
https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20482
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Okasha, A. (2004). Mental patients in prisons: punishment versus treatment?. World
Psychiatry, 3(1), 1. Retrieved from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1414650/
Series, L. (2015). Relationships, autonomy and legal capacity: Mental capacity and support
paradigms. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 40, 80-91. doi:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlp.2015.04.010
Shaw, J., Appleby, L., Amos, T., McDonnell, R., Harris, C., McCann, K., ... & Parsons, R.
(1999). Mental disorder and clinical care in people convicted of homicide: national
clinical survey. Bmj, 318(7193), 1240-1244. doi:
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.318.7193.1240
Slade, M. (2010). Mental illness and well-being: the central importance of positive
psychology and recovery approaches. BMC health services research, 10(1), 26. doi:
https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-10-26
Harnois, G., Gabriel, P., & World Health Organization. (2000). Mental health and work:
impact, issues and good practices. Retrieved from
https://www.who.int/mental_health/media/en/712.pdf
WHO. (2019). Mental health, human rights & legislation. Retrieved 22 September 2019,
from https://www.who.int/mental_health/policy/legislation/en/
health.gov. (2012). Mental health statement of rights and responsibilities. Retrieved 22
September 2019, from
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https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/E39137B3C170F
93ECA257CBC007CFC8C/$File/rights2.pdf
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