Chief Psychiatrist’s Targeted Review Report: Homicides allegedly committed by people who have had contact with, or who were being treated by, WA Mental Health Services during 2018

Homicides by individuals with serious mental illness are rare. In 2018, Western Australia experienced a spike of nine homicides allegedly associated with individuals who were patients of, or had recent contact with public sector mental health services. The Chief Psychiatrist undertook a Review to consider this issue.  This Review found a mental health system under significant pressure, and identified similar associated factors to those that lead to a range of poor outcomes in mental health.  It was noted that these factors had been identified by several historical reviews.  Three recommendations have been made, aimed at system improvement.