Risk Management In Mental Health Services Page 6
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54CHAPTER 1
1.1 Introduction
We are all concerned with delivering the best possible mental health
service for service users and their carers. This means a service that is
effective, involves service users and carers in decision making and is safe
for all involved. Safe, effective mental health services take a modern
approach to risk, where risk management is defined as “the culture,
processes and structures that are directed towards realising potential
opportunities whilst managing adverse effects” (AS/NZS 4360: 2004).
This approach moves away from a one-dimensional view of risk in mental
health as pertaining largely to threats arising from service users, and
instead views risk as dynamic and multi-dimensional, and emphasises the
potential gains as well as the hazards of risk taking. This document adopts
this wider view, where the process of managing risk is not just focused on
eliminating risk, but on realising potential
benefits while reducing the likelihood of
This approach
harms occurring as a result of taking risks.
moves away from
This dynamic view of risk, which includes
a one-dimensional
potential opportunities as well as minimising
hazards, fits very well with the recovery
view of risk in
approach to mental health services. National
mental health….
mental health policy A Vision for Change
(DoH&C, 2006), recommended that mental
health services adopt a recovery approach, and this policy is now being
implemented by the HSE. Recovery in this context refers to the process
of a person with a serious mental illness “reclaiming his or her right to a
safe, dignified and personally meaningful and gratifying life in the
community” (Davidson et al 2009). The emphasis is on self-determination
and the role of the mental health services and mental health professionals
is to support the individual to be successful in achieving their recovery.
This approach to mental health is characterised by partnership between
the service user and mental health professional in negotiating all aspects
of care, including potential risks. It creates a context for the mental health
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