Summary

In this study session you have learned that:

1. People with severe mental illness (SMI) pose more of a threat to themselves, through neglect and self-harm, than they are a risk to others; and they may be at significant risk of abuse by others.
2. The WHO priority mental disorders identified as treatable or capable of being modified by treatment are psychosis and mania, depression, suicide, substance abuse, childhood mental disorders, dementia and epilepsy.
3. The main purpose of your discussions with a person with a possible or actual mental illness is to understand their problems and to assess the risk they may pose to themselves or to others.
4. When talking to a person with a possible SMI, pay attention to their appearance, speech, emotions, thinking, perception and insight, and their intentions if they have self-harmed.
5. Careful and sensitive questioning can help to screen a person for the possible signs of mental illness and assess the risks of self-harm or suicide.
6. The risk indicators for repeated self-harm include making preparations for suicide, previous attempts, using a violent method, substance abuse, and presence of ongoing difficulties in their life.