Program & Abstract Book - EPFL Latsis Symposium 2009

EPFL Latsis Symposium 2009: Understanding Violence
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ri s k a s s e s s m e n t in m e n t a l h e a l t h
s e r v i c e s: a n a t i o n a l m o D e l
Simpson, Alexander 1
Poster Abstracts
1 Mason Clinic and University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Risk assessment in mental health services has been controversial and often
resisted by mainstream mental health services. In New Zealand, schema
in use in mental health services were often actuarial in form, resulting
in static risk categorisations that are not useful in building an understanding
of risk with a client. If it is to be widely applied and acceptable, risk
assessment needs to be both simple and integrated with recovery based
intervention. This paper describes the development of a proforma that
builds on core skills of multidisciplinary mental health professionals to
develop a simple and robust risk formulation that is dynamic and easily
communicated with the client and others involved in their care. It communicates
a shared understanding of risk issues that describes the particular
pathways to risk for that individual. The proforma and accompanied training
programme is now taught as the national policy for risk assessment in
mental health services in New Zealand and all mental health professionals
are trained in its use. The benefits and risks of such a policy will be described.
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