Forensic Mental Health: From Assessment to Recovery

Kaliski, Sean

Forensic Mental Health: From Assessment to Recovery

MOOC

2024-06-06

Abstract

There is a significant intersection between mental health and legal practices. This book describes how psycholegal assessments and rehabilitation should be conducted and applied in the South African context. It includes the pathways that start with assessments, progress to treatment and rehabilitation and end usually with an acceptance of a comfortable level of functioning. Mental health practitioners (which include psychiatrists, psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers and psychiatric nurses) commonly provide assessments and opinions for a variety of criminal and civil legal processes. Conversely, many people with mental illness are confronted with legal issues that require coordination between their treating clinicians and lawyers. These issues vary greatly, from criminal cases to civil actions that can involve child custody, testamentary capacity, assessments of impairment for disability claims. Mental health practitioners are frequently requested to compile and submit reports that are used either in the courts or in juridical processes that involve lawyers, social services, employers and insurance companies. These professionals are often subsequently tasked with treating and supporting those they have assessed.