Show simple item record

AuthorAlabdulla, Majid
AuthorReagu, Shuja
AuthorElhusein, Bushra
Available date2024-03-04T03:41:15Z
Publication Date2021
Publication NameInternational Journal of Law and Psychiatry
ResourceScopus
ISSN1602527
URIhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlp.2021.101748
URIhttp://hdl.handle.net/10576/52589
AbstractAccumulating evidence exploring the impact of the pandemic on mental health has been published as the Covid-19 pandemic has evolved and reflect how shock, anxiety, and fear of the early periods of the pandemic are giving way to depression and PTSD symptoms as the pandemic and its restrictions persist (Thombs et al., 2020; Vindegaard & Benros, 2020). The general findings have been those of increased psychiatric morbidity in general populations, psychiatric populations, and special groups like quarantined and isolated populations (Reagu et al., 2021; Salari, Hosseinian-Far, Jalali, et al., 2020). Social distancing among general populations and isolation/quarantine for infected cases has been the mainstay of containment in the absence of treatment (World Health Organization 2020, Center for Disease Control and prevention 2020). However, this has been challenging and variable across the globe and has been affected by economic needs, political ideologies, and sometimes the nature of the populations like patients in mental health units (International Monetary Fund 2020, McMichael, 2020).
SponsorAlthough passed in 2016, the actual implementation has taken time, and at the time of writing this, the MHL is still not fully implemented. Training of the staff within mental health services has been completed, a detailed Code of Practice (CoP) has been published, and legal forms and administrative systems have been finalized in partnership with internationally established providers of mental health training (Qatar Tribune 2016). However, the wider training of other stakeholders has been slowed down because of the pandemic, and there have been delays in the appointments to the first Independent Competent Authority (ICA). According to its descriptions in the MHL and the CoP, the ICA will function somewhat along the lines of First-tier Tribunal system (Mental Health) as it exists in England and will be headed by an expert legal member and supported by a Psychiatrist independent from the Hamad Medical Corporation, representation from a member of the public and representation from human rights organization (Gov.UK 2008).The authors would like to express thier gratitude to Mr Iain Tulley, CEO of the National Mental Health Services at Hamad Medical Corporation and Ms Susan Clelland, Acting Executive Director for the National Mental Health Office in the Minstry of Public Health, Qatar for thier support. The authors are grateful to the Qatar Ntional Library for thier support in making this article available as open access.
Languageen
PublisherElsevier
SubjectCOVID-19
Mental Health Law
Qatar
TitleImpact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health Law in the State of Qatar
TypeArticle Review
Volume Number79
dc.accessType Open Access


Files in this item

Thumbnail

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record