Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
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Australas Psychiatry · Oct 2020
ReviewAlcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems during the COVID-19 pandemic: a narrative review.
To summarise publications reporting on alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in a narrative review. ⋯ The time for action is now, and all necessary measures to prevent an increase in alcohol-related problems should be adopted. At the same time, healthcare services should also prepare for such potential increase, while adapting to the exceptional circumstances presented by the pandemic, such as physical distancing.
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Australas Psychiatry · Oct 2020
Supporting the vulnerable: developing a strategic community mental health response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic poses significant risks to the vulnerable patient population supported by community mental health (CMH) teams in South Australia. This paper describes a plan developed to understand and mitigate these risks. ⋯ The strategic response plan developed to address risks to vulnerable patients from COVID-19 can assist other CMH services in managing the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Australas Psychiatry · Oct 2020
ReviewUp-to-date review of psychotherapy via videoconference: implications and recommendations for the RANZCP Psychotherapy Written Case during the COVID-19 pandemic.
There has been a surge in videoconferencing technology use in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. RANZCP registrars engaged in the Psychotherapy Written Case are met with new challenges in navigating the psychodynamic processes that can occur when transitioning from in-person to videoconferencing psychotherapy. There is also a myriad of videoconferencing platforms to choose from. ⋯ It has become necessary to adapt our clinical practice to the current COVID-19 pandemic and physical distancing regulations. The literature recognises videoconferencing psychotherapy as a valid therapeutic medium which can facilitate healthy psychological maturation, but there are theoretical drawbacks. A transition to videoconferencing psychotherapy requires patient agreeability, consistency and reflection upon patient-therapist dynamics; this will aide in the Psychotherapy Written Case submission. Registrars must balance usability, digital security and patient preferences when choosing videoconferencing platforms.
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Australas Psychiatry · Apr 2020
ReviewHuman rights implications of introducing a new mental health act - principles, challenges and opportunities.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), 2006 has influenced the evolution of mental health legislation to protect and promote human rights of individuals with mental illness. This review introduces how the human rights agenda can be systematised into mental health services. Exploration is made of how some principles of CRPD have been incorporated into Queensland's Mental Health Act 2016. ⋯ Although progress has been made in some areas, e.g. heavier reliance on capacity assessment and new supported decision-making mechanisms, MHA 2016 has continued to focus on involuntary treatment. A Human Rights Act 2019 has been passed by the Queensland parliament, which may fill in the gap by strengthening positive rights.