Latest news with #forensicmentalhealth
BreakingNews.ie
27-06-2025
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
Spike in number of sexual assaults at mental health facilities last year, report finds
There was an increase in the number of reported sexual assaults at mental health facilities last year, a new report has found. In its annual report, the Mental Health Commission (MHC) found that in relation to the criminal events (sexual assault) category, there was a marked annual increase in the number of centre incidents. Advertisement It found that last year there were 76 reported incidents, compared with 42 in 2023 and 12 in 2022. The MHC said it engaged with each centre that reported a category 6C criminal event to ensure the safety of each resident and to 'require assurances regarding the wider safeguarding arrangements in place'. In its 126-page annual report, the MHC said that 6C criminal events were the highest among Serious Reportable Events (SRE), followed by environmental events – serious disability associated with a fall – at 23. Other criminal events reported, including serious injury/disability resulting from a physical assault, was two last year. Advertisement In 2024, there was a decrease of 16.87 per cent in the number of reported episodes of seclusion when compared with those reported in 2023. There were 744 episodes of seclusion reported as having concluded in 2024, involving 434 residents in 27 centres. The shortest episode reported lasted two minutes, while the longest episode lasted 2,976 hours or 124 days. This long-running seclusion, which was specific to the forensic mental health care, started in June 2024 and ended in October 2024. Advertisement Services are required to notify the Inspector of Mental Health Services if a resident is secluded for a period exceeding 72 hours. The MHC received 67 notifications from 11 approved centres of episodes of seclusion that lasted longer than 72 hours in 2024. In comparison, noted within the 2023 annual activity report there were 895 episodes of seclusion involving 473 residents in 27 approved centres, and reported within the 2022 annual report there were 1,364 episodes of seclusion involving 620 residents in 26 approved centres. In 2024, 69.4 per cent of residents who were secluded were male. The average age of secluded residents at the start of the episode was 36 years. Advertisement The youngest secluded resident was 15 years old and the oldest was 77. The majority of residents (68.4 per cent) were secluded only once. In 2024, there was a decrease of 18.6 per cent in the number of reported episodes of physical restraint when compared with those reported in 2023. There were 2,092 episodes of physical restraint involving 844 residents in 51 approved centres notified to the MHC in 2024. Advertisement This compares with annually reported activity figures of 2,572 episodes of physical restraint involving 879 residents in 52 approved centres in 2023, and 2,945 episodes of physical restraint involving 1,078 residents in 48 approved centres in 2022. The average episode of physical restraint in 2024 lasted for four minutes. Of those residents physically restrained in 2024, 53 per cent were notified as male. The average age of residents who were physically restrained was 40. The youngest resident who was physically restrained was 12, and the oldest was 86. The report stated that last year, there were 17 centres with instances of non-compliance that received a critical risk rating. This means that there was a high likelihood of continued non-compliance and a high impact on the safety, rights, health or wellbeing of residents. The MHC follows up on all areas of concern and critical risks through its enforcement process. The MHC took 31 enforcement actions in response to incidents, events and serious concerns arising in 2024. These actions related to 20 centres nationwide, and the maximum enforcement actions initiated against any one approved centre was five. This compares with 52 enforcement actions in 2023; 45 enforcement actions in 2022; and 42 enforcement actions in 2021. Enforcement actions related to core areas of service provision that impacted the safety, wellbeing or human rights of residents. They included maintenance of premises at the approved centre; risk management procedures at the approved centre; appropriate staffing at the approved centre; the provision of therapeutic services and programmes; and other service provision areas. In a statement, a spokeswoman for the HSE said: 'The report confirms the positive move towards human rights-based standards of mental healthcare and that the majority of approved centres are substantially compliant. 'The trend of compliance at a national level remains positive, with six approved centres achieving 100 per cent compliance, four of which were HSE facilities. 'Overall compliance across HSE adult centres in 2024 was over 80 per cent. 'The MHC also noted the continued reduction of child admissions to adult centres. 'Last year, there were five such admissions, which is the lowest recorded level to date, compared to 14 in 2023. 'A number of approved centres which previously had poor inspection findings have reversed this pattern to a focus on quality improvement and good outcomes. 'We acknowledge the key role of our HSE colleagues in mental health teams across the country who have enabled these positive steps. 'The HSE acknowledges that, in some areas, compliance with regulations for premises, staffing, risk management and care planning remain areas of concern.' Minister for Mental Health Mary Butler said the report represents a 'significant step' to enhance the quality and safety of mental health services. 'While it rightly highlights areas requiring further attention in a small number of approved centres, I am encouraged by the positive developments described in the report,' the junior minister said. Ireland 'Concerning' mental health levels place Ireland bo... Read More 'In particular, the continued adoption of human rights-based approaches and the implementation of innovative practices in many HSE centres are welcome. 'It is also encouraging to see that in 2024, the number of children admitted to adult units fell to its lowest level on record and we saw a further decrease in episodes of seclusion and restraint. 'This is a clear indication that our policies are working.'
RNZ News
16-06-2025
- RNZ News
Killer's emails showed escalating risk, public deserves inquiry
Elliot Cameron was sentenced in the High Court at Christchurch to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 10 years for murdering Faye Phelps. Photo: Pool/ NZME / George Heard The public "deserves an inquiry" into the forensic mental health system, says the Chief Victims Advisor, after revelations an elderly mental health patient who murdered a pensioner killed his brother 50 years ago . Elliot Cameron was sentenced in the High Court at Christchurch last week to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 10 years by Justice Rachel Dunningham for murdering 83-year-old Frances Anne Phelps, known as Faye. A suppression order was lifted on Monday, allowing RNZ to report Cameron killed his brother Jeffrey Cameron in 1975. A jury found him not guilty of murder by reason of insanity and detained as a special patient. Cameron was made a voluntary patient at Hillmorton Hospital in 2016, and then in October last year murdered Phelps, striking her with an axe. RNZ exclusively obtained emails from Cameron to his cousin Alan Cameron sent over more than a decade, detailing his concerns that he might kill again. In response to the revelations, Chief Victims Advisor Ruth Money said it was hard to see Phelps' death as "anything other than preventable". "Mr Cameron was clearly in mental distress and as these communications show his risk was escalating. He knew it so why didn't those professionals caring for him recognise it and if they did, what action if any did they take?" RNZ earlier revealed another case involving a man who was made a special patient under the Mental Health Act after his first killing was recently found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity for a second time, after killing someone he believed was possessed. After that article, Money called for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into forensic mental health facilities. On Monday evening, Money said she stood by her recommendation. "Now four weeks on, we learn of another patient who has warned of his intent and distress numerous times and yet he too has gone on to kill for a second time. "The public deserves an inquiry that can give actionable expert recommendations, as opposed to multiple Coroners inquests and recommendations that do not have the same binding influence. The patients themselves, and the public will be best served by an independent inquiry, not another internal review that changes nothing." Chief Victims Advisor Ruth Money says it is hard to see Faye Phelps' death as "anything other than preventable". Photo: Stephanie Creagh Photography In 2010, Cameron made an alarming suggestion to his cousin. "Once someone has been driven to murder... it is a lot easier to... drive them to murder again," he wrote. "The probability of me repeating the offence outside hospital is greater than the probability of me repeating the offence where I am and so disrupting society is less when I remain in hospital." "I am correctly placed in a mental hospital," he said. "I should remain where I am." His anxieties around any change in his circumstances bubbled up again in 2016 when his patient status was changed to "informal" - meaning he was free to leave Hillmorton. "My mental state has not changed and I would be vulnerable in society and this would lead me to repeat the offence," he wrote to his cousin. "The mood here is to discharge anyone they can regardless of circumstances," he continued. "I would not like to go to jail but this may be my only option. I would need to remain in hospital. I would be grateful if you were prepared to look at this." In another email he wrote: "I may not have a better alternative than to re-offend. My vulnerability will lead me to recommit my original offence if forced on." At Elliot's sentencing it was revealed that in December 2022, he told nursing staff that he would be "hard to ignore if he was chopping up bodies" and continued threats over the next couple of months to kill people if discharged from hospital. In July 2024, Elliot threatened "disastrous measures" if he was discharged. From left, Bill Phelps and Faye Phelps. Photo: Supplied Phelps' daughter Karen Phelps told RNZ it was "shocking and appalling" that Cameron had expressed his vulnerability and the risk he believed he posed to the community with Hillmorton staff. She does not believe he was listened to or given the help he needed, and was therefore "a ticking time bomb". "They knew Elliot had vulnerabilities, they knew he'd killed before. "In my view, knowing Elliot was continually raising concerns about his mental health and the fact he might reoffend if released into the community, the blood of my mother is clearly on the hands of the DHB. It's hard to see it any other way. "They knew Elliot had vulnerabilities, they knew he'd killed before. "In my view, knowing Elliot was continually raising concerns about his mental health and the fact he might reoffend if released into the community, the blood of my mother is clearly on the hands of the DHB. It's hard to see it any other way." Health New Zealand deputy chief executive Te Waipounamu Martin Keogh earlier expressed "heartfelt condolences" to Phelps' family for their loss. "We have taken this tragic event extremely seriously and a full external review is progressing. "We have been in touch with the family and are keeping them updated on the review. Once the review is completed, it will be shared with the family and the coroner." Keogh was unable to provide further comment while the review is ongoing and the Coroner's inquest is yet to be completed. Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey said in a statement to RNZ he had been "very clear" more needed to be done to improve mental health and addiction outcomes and services in New Zealand. The Mental Health Bill currently before Parliament aimed to set out a new approach to the decision-making around change of status from special patient. If passed, the bill would establish a Forensic Review Tribunal responsible for determining long leave, reviewing the condition of these patients, and determining changes in legal status. "Any serious incident, particularly where someone is tragically killed, is a cause of very serious concern. "That is why it is important that investigations and reviews are triggered and recommendations for changes to services are acted on. As minister my focus will be on ensuring agencies involved are putting in place the necessary changes to help prevent these incidents occurring again." 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