I am pleased to announce the release of the Chief Psychiatrist’s Guidelines for the use of Electroconvulsive Therapy in Western Australia 2024.  These guidelines update and replace the previous edition published in 2006, and provide a framework for best practice in Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) provision in WA. ECT remains an important evidence-based therapy option in… Continue reading Release of the Chief Psychiatrist’s Guidelines for the use of Electroconvulsive Therapy in Western Australia 2024

The Chief Psychiatrist’s Annual Report is an important point of feedback about standards of mental health treatment and care. It makes transparent the ongoing improvement and challenges of mental health services across this massive state. Given the numbers of Western Australians who use mental health services, the Chief Psychiatrist’s oversight of standards is essential the… Continue reading The Chief Psychiatrist’s Annual Report 2023-24 has been tabled in State Parliament

The Criminal Law (Mental Impairment) Act 2023 (the CLMI Act) for Western Australia came into effect on 1 September 2024. The Act interfaces with the Mental Health Act 2014. The CLMI Act is important law reform with greater human rights embedded. Changes to the CLMI legislation will impact the delivery of mental health services to… Continue reading Proclamation of the Criminal Law (Mental Impairment) Act 2023

The Chief Psychiatrist is responsible for overseeing the treatment and care in mental health services in Western Australia. The Chief Psychiatrist is required by law to develop standards and guidelines. Sexual safety in mental health services is an absolute priority for the people of Western Australia. The Chief Psychiatrist’s Guidelines for the Sexual Safety of… Continue reading New Standards for the Sexual Safety of Consumers of Mental Health Services

The Office of the Chief Psychiatrist acknowledges this year’s National Reconciliation Week, a period of reflection, action and commitment to strengthening relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the wider Australian community. Centred on the theme of Now More Than Ever, National Reconciliation Week calls on Australians to stand up in solidarity with… Continue reading National Reconciliation Week 2024 – Now More Than Ever

The Chief Psychiatrist is pleased to present version 3.2 of the Clinicians’ Practice Guide to the Mental Health Act 2014. This resource will continue to be updated over time. Printed versions of this guide have now been superseded; please ensure that when referring to the guide, you check for the current version online. Clinicians’ Practice… Continue reading Update to the Clinicians’ Practice Guide to the Mental Health Act 2014

The Chief Psychiatrist is pleased to present an update to the Chief Psychiatrist’s Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) resource. This resource will continue to be updated, and further FAQs added over time. These FAQs are intended to assist clinicians with clinical translation of the complex aspects of the Mental Health Act 2014. They aim to assist… Continue reading Update to the Chief Psychiatrist’s Frequently Asked Questions resource

The Chief Psychiatrist is pleased to present the Chief Psychiatrist’s Guideline on the Use of Detention and Restraint in Non-Authorised Healthcare Settings. The Guideline sets out the requirements for the use of detention and restraint in a non-authorised healthcare setting, within a human rights and best practice-based framework. It aims to help service managers, clinical… Continue reading New Guideline on the Use of Detention and Restraint in Non-Authorised Healthcare Settings

I am pleased to present this new factsheet on restrictive practices, restraint and detention. This factsheet is for clinicians contemplating the use of detention and restraint in non-authorised healthcare settings. It has been collaboratively developed by the Department of Health WA, and the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist. It contains up-to-date information on patient rights,… Continue reading New Restrictive Practices Factsheet

The Chief Psychiatrist’s Annual Report 2022-23 has been tabled in WA Parliament. The Chief Psychiatrist issues an Annual Report on the functions and statutory requirements under the requirements of the Mental Health Act 2014. The Office of the Chief Psychiatrist (OCP) is the agency that supports the Chief Psychiatrist. This report highlights the key achievements… Continue reading The Chief Psychiatrist’s Annual Report 2022-23