Today, Tuesday 10 October, marks World Mental Health Day, an international observance of the importance of mental health to wellbeing. It also falls in the middle of WA Mental Health Week, an eight-day period of celebration, reflection and connection centred on the importance of individual and shared mental wellbeing across Western Australia. With its theme… Continue reading World Mental Health Day and WA Mental Health Week

Last month, the State Government announced the final outcome of the Independent Review of WA Health System Governance. The Chief Psychiatrist sat on the Minister’s Working Party to advise on recommendations relating to the governance mental health and AOD sectors. The Office of the Chief Psychiatrist’s (OCP) leadership team also took part in stakeholder workshops… Continue reading Outcomes of the Independent Governance Review

The Chief Psychiatrist has a responsibility under the Mental Health Act 2014 (MHA 2014) for overseeing the treatment and care of mental health patients throughout the State of Western Australia (s. 515 (1a-e) of the MHA 2014). The Chief Psychiatrist must discharge that responsibility by publishing standards and monitoring compliance with standards. In 2015 I… Continue reading Change to Accreditation Requirements for Mental Health Services

I support the rights of Aboriginal people to shape the policy that informs their lives and their healthcare. I support the Uluru Statement from the Heart and its mission to empower First Nations peoples of Australia in a process of truth-telling and self-determination through Constitutional recognition. I look forward to walking alongside Aboriginal colleagues in… Continue reading The Chief Psychiatrist on a First Nations Voice to Parliament

I’m pleased to join the Premier, Hon. Roger Cook MLA, and the Minister for Mental Health, Hon. Amber-Jade Sanderson, in welcoming the opening of the new Mental Health Unit at Joondalup Health Campus. The new facility offers 102 mental health beds to service specific cohorts of adults, young people and older adults seeking clinical mental… Continue reading New Mental Health Unit at Joondalup Health Campus

The Office of the Chief Psychiatirst (OCP) has taken a lead role in informing hospital staff of the current state of the law with respect to the detention and restraint of people in authorised hospitals under the Mental Health Act 2014 (MHA 2014); and in non-authorised clinical settings. The OCP recently delivered a presentation to… Continue reading Detention and Restraint in Non-Authorised Clinical Settings

The Office of the Chief Psychiatrist will be undertaking more regular without notice visits to services as one part of the development of a more efficient, effective and varied visiting and review process. Section 521 of the Mental Health Act 2014 (the Act) gives the Chief Psychiatrist or staff of the Chief Psychiatrist statutory power… Continue reading Without Notice Visits by the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist

Kaatadjiny Walbraaniny Danjoo – Learning to heal together As Chief Psychiatrist of Western Australia I recognise the historical significance of National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) week-long celebrations of Aboriginal and Islander culture. It is with pleasure that I acknowledge the theme for NAIDOC week this year ‘For Our Elders.’ This is particularly… Continue reading Chief Psychiatrist’s NAIDOC Week Message 2023

The Chief Psychiatrist welcomes the appointment of Ms Maureen Lewis as Mental Health Commissioner, and acknowledges her wealth of experience in the sector. We look forward to a consultative, collaborative and cooperative working relationship over the next five years during what will be a time of innovation, change and growth for mental health in Western… Continue reading Welcome to the new Mental Health Commissioner

The OCP has now run two Community of Practice sessions focussing on the legal and clinical perspectives of the use of restraint to prevent harm in Emergency Departments and other emergency situations. The recording, notes and Q&A from the session held on 30 March 2023, run jointly with Royal Perth Hospital Emergency Department, are available… Continue reading Restraint in the Emergency Setting: Clinical and Legal Perspectives