About

Dealing with those who suffer from mental illness can be a potential minefield from a medico-legal perspective.  Understanding Mental Health Law for Non Lawyers is an in depth, one day course which will give you a working understanding of the Act and supporting legislation, and practical, simple to follow tools and steps to ensure compliance and positive outcomes in your interactions with patients, families and other medical practitioners.

Key Learning Outcomes:
• Gain an understanding of Mental Health in New Zealand
• Identify & understand the relevant legislation
• Understand the impact of Mental Health on Capacity and Consent
• Comply with Privacy requirements

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Anyone involved with healthcare, who has an interest in medical, mental heath or privacy law including:
• Doctors
• Clinicians
• Nurses
• Documentation Staff
• Pharmacists
• Privacy Officers
• Mental Health Professionals
• Psychiatric Social Workers
• Doctors and Medical Staff
• Corrections Staff
• Caregivers
• Advocacy Groups

Training Methodology:
These workshops combine seminar sessions with case studies in an interactive learning exercise. All attendees will be provided with a workbook and a certificate of completion

Outline

Mental Health in New Zealand
• Overview of Mental Health in New Zealand
• Facts and Figures

Mental Health Legislation in New Zealand
• Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Act 1966
• Intellectual Disability (Compulsory Care & Rehabilitation) Act 2003
• Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment & Treatment) Act 1992
• Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment & Treatment) Amendment Act 1999
• Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Criminal Law and Mental Disorder
• Victims’ Rights Act 2002
• Misuse of Drugs 1975 - Section 24
• Crimes Act 1961
• Criminal Procedure (Mentally Impaired Persons) Act 2003

Mental Health and Human Rights Issues
• Privacy and Confidentiality
• Themes in International Human Rights Law
• New Zealand Compliance with Human Rights Standards

Specific Issues Arising
• Intellectual Disability
• Young People
• Discharge
• Seclusion and Restraint

Facilitator

Kris Gledhill, University of Auckland

Kris Gledhill came to New Zealand in 2006 to undertake a PhD course, having developed an appellate criminal and public law practice in England which included numerous appearances in precedent setting cases in the House of Lords and Court of Appeal. He accepted a lectureship at Auckland University Law School from the start of 2007, though he maintains his English practice on a part-time basis. Prior to joining academia on a full-time basis, he had taught extensively on judicial training courses for the Mental Health Review Tribunal in England (of which he is a legal member) and continuing professional development courses; and had been involved in teaching an online mental health law course at New York Law School.
Kris has a particular interest in forensic risk assessment and the regulation of its use in the legal arena; he has spoken on this topic to the New Zealand Judiciary, the Department of Corrections and the Medico-Legal Society and is currently engaged in research and writing in this area. His other keen interest is in comparative human rights law, particularly its impact on mental health law: he has spoken on this topic in many forums, and recently authored a report for the Mental Health Commission of Ireland on the compliance of the Mental Health Act 2001 with human rights standards.

In-house Training